Bring Me a Little Water, Sylvie

As soon as you can get your permit from the city...

Phoenix Woman Ordered to Not Give Out Water in 112 Degree Heat Because She Lacked a Permit

Dana Crow-Smith said a City of Phoenix worker came up to her during the First Friday festival in downtown Phoenix last month and told her she was violating city code by handing out free water because she did not have a permit. Crow-Smith and a group of others were there exercising their Christian beliefs by engaging people to talk about religion if they wanted.

The group brought several cases of bottled water to give away in the 112-degree heat, but said a Neighborhood Preservation Inspector told the group they had to stop handing out the water or would be cited. “It was really hot and yeah we wanted to show God's love and a small act of kindness is a great way to do that without shoving it down someone's throat,” said Crow-Smith.

The Rutherford Institute , a non-profit civil liberties organization, stepped in to represent Crow-Smith and calls this is “a violation of Crow-Smith's First Amendment right to freely exercise her religion, her Fourteenth Amendment due process rights, as well as Arizona's Free Exercise of Religion Act.”

"It is a sad day when local government officials prohibit Americans from such charitable acts as giving water to the thirsty in their city," said John W. Whitehead, president of The Rutherford Institute.

In a letter to the city , Whitehead demanded the City issue a formal, written apology to Crow-Smith, assure her no City officials will interfere in future with her distribution of water, and require City workers go through training on the proper enforcement of the City’s code.

It's interesting (not to mention infuriating) that the city feels it necessary to interfere in a simple act of charity.  I guess they don't want anyone interfering in their monopoly.



Add this to the list of songs my dad used to sing to me.

Wombat-Socho at The Other McCain gets first place in the links this week, with "Rule 5 Sunday: Only God Knows Why." The Classical Liberal links with his "Monster" linkfest.