Homeless Feeding Ban Hearing Set for Federal Court

Philadelphia attorneys representing numerous religious groups will appear in federal court on Monday to argue that the city’s ban on feeding the homeless on city parkland—including the Parkway and Love Park—unconstitutionally violates the First Amendment. The ban went into effect in June, but hasn’t been enforced because the city is waiting for a judge to rule on the matter. Many believe that the ban was a response to concerns brought to light by the Occupy Philly protest and some think that the city’s focus on tourism on and around the Parkway may have been a motivating factor in the enactment of the ban. [CBS 3]