A local nonprofit says they will continue to feed the homeless despite warnings from the city of Houston against doing so.

The grassroots organization says it won’t stop feeding the downtown homeless after the city of Houston warned them to do so. A group called “Food Not Bombs” gathered Monday night to feed a long line of homeless people despite a series of warning signs physically placed by the city in front of the Houston Public Library, just around the corner from City Hall.

Sher Dor works for Food Not Bombs and says the organization has been distributing food downtown for almost two decades, but the latest warning from the city sounds more like a threat than a warning.

“The mayor is the one who heads the police department, so whatever he says goes and what worries me the most, like on this sign, compared to all other signs in the past, this sign says: “If we continue to share eating here, we’re breaking the law,” so we’re taking it a little more seriously.”

The group also claims this is against their constitutional rights and says this is not the first time the city has tried to shut them down. Doré explained how, back in 2012, Mayor Anise Parker and the city council passed an anti-food sharing ordinance that forbids serving charity meals at facilities, public or private, without the consent of the mayor’s office.

The group gathers for meals at least four times a week, except Thursday, and Dore says they’re not going to stop.

“We are going to continue to serve. It is a tax-financed property. We’ve always done this and there’s no reason for us to move downtown for the mayor and the Final Four next month.”

The City of Houston has released a statement on the rules and regulations for charitable food service. In a statement, they said:

“Once again, the City is providing a dedicated location with the appropriate required space and infrastructure/amenities to serve Houstonians with the dignity they deserve. These updated Rules and Regulations do not apply to Charity Catering Services on Private Property. Charity catering on public property must be done at 61 Riesner Street, Houston, Texas 77002. Charity catering at a public location in Houston without permission from the City is illegal, and notices will be issued after February 24, 2023.”

“The pressure will subside,” Dore said. We don’t know if the police will come here. ready for tickets or even arrest if it comes to that.”