A lot has happened since our last update here. We’ve been to court, municipal and federal. We’ve won locally, and we’ve obtained a federal injunction. Here is a brief history of what has happened, and where we are now.
April 4, 2012
Houston passes an ordinance to criminalize sharing food with “people in need”. Food Not Bombs Houston does not comply. Over 34,000 people sign a petition against the ordinance. Ultimately, it isn’t enforced against Food Not Bombs Houston. Texas Observer
March 1, 2023
After ~11 years of non-enforcement, the arbitrary hand of the city steps in to attempt to prevent us from sharing food. Click 2 Houston
July 28, 2023
Food Not Bombs volunteers enjoy the first of a series of victories in local court. The citizens of Houston are unwilling to find someone guilty of giving someone a healthy meal. AP News
August 2023
The city vows to continue its fight against tofu tacos, beans, rice, and fresh fruit. Houston Chronicle
January 30, 2024
Food Not Bombs Houston files a federal lawsuit against the city of Houston, with the help of the Texas Civil Rights Project. Houston Landing
February 14, 2024
Food Not Bombs Houston is granted a preliminary injunction. This means that the city can no longer continue ticketing volunteers engaged in protest for the duration of our legal proceedings. Houston Public Media
September 7, 2025
Our case is set for a bench trial, and the schedule is emptied. Court Listener
October 27, 2026
The bench trial is still pending. We still have an injunction. We still continue to protest adjacent to city hall at the library 4 evenings per week – rain, wind, snow?, sun, whatever.
We do not know when the ruling will come, but once we have any news, we will keep everyone posted.