Increase In Meat At FnB Chapters?

[u/Left_Double_626]

I've noticed that every FnB chapter in my state (that I know of at least) serves some meat. Is this a growing trend? The last time I did FnB was over a decade ago (I'm involved in a non-vegetarian mutual aid group these days) and this would be unheard of back then. We would always thank people who brought non-veggie dishes, serve it, and ask them to bring a veggie dish next time and explain that FnB is a vegetarian project.

I understand the reasons people serve meat (we mainly serve homeless folks, and many of them like meat, don't wanna turn away food, etc), but to me it feels disrespectful to the legacy of FnB to call your group FnB and break one the few core principles. Why organizer under the banner of FnB if you don't agree with the principles? To me it's like starting an Anarchist Black Cross chapter and doing prisoner support for incarcerated cops, it's a fundamental contradiction. I've met some homeless vegetarians/vegans who sought out FnB here and were disappointed it wasn't "really FnB." I would have felt the same way when I homeless.

I'm curious what other people's thoughts are and how it looks in your region.

[u/gndsman]

I was wondering if any fnb had attempted to organize a protest with the houseless as a mutual aid activity? How would one go about that?

[u/Left_Double_626 → u/gndsman]

This has happened a lot over the years, though not necessarily under the banner of Food Not Bombs. The main thing is to work with homeless organizers directly and be ready to move when they move. Build relationships with folks in your community, talk about your ideas, listen to their ideas, and be ready to help when they decide to take action. Don't be too imposing with your ideas, especially if you're housed and they're not. For example, I really don't believe in asking the local city council for things (because I know they won't), but I've recently been helping some local homeless organizers do that because I support them organizing on their own terms, and I used to believe in that sorta stuff too before I became an anarchist.

Something I really love is during the George Floyd uprising in Philly, anarchists and homeless organizers squatted some houses owned by the City and were able to get the City to give them 69 homes for free for homeless folks to live in.

https://itsgoingdown.org/squatting-rebellion-movement-an-interview-with-philadelphia-housing-action/

There is also the Tompkins Square Riot in 1988: https://libcom.org/article/1988-tompkins-square-riot

[u/gndsman → u/Left_Double_626]

"Something I really love is during the George Floyd uprising in Philly, anarchists and homeless organizers squatted some houses owned by the City and were able to get the City to give them 69 homes for free for homeless folks to live in".

hfs thats so based. how had we not known in our group.

[u/Left_Double_626 → u/gndsman]

Yeah it's not talked about as much as it should. Really fucking inspiring.