Hurricane refugee arrested in Atlanta for panhandling

[True_Blue]

ATLANTA - A man who fled Louisiana with his family to escape Hurricane Katrina was arrested for asking motorists for money in this city where panhandling has been one of the most contentious issues lately.

James Scott says he had slept in a car for days with his brother, sister and her two young children when they decided to ask for help last Thursday. Nearly broke and newly stranded, the family drove to Buckhead - an affluent north Atlanta neighborhood - and got out near a shopping mall and split up, hoping for the charity of others.

"It's the most expensive mall in Atlanta," Scott said. "I thought I could get some help."

After a half hour of asking passing motorists for help, Scott was approached by a policeman on a bicycle. Scott showed the officer his Louisiana driver's license, a $2,000 check stub, his car tag and his car registration - proof that he was not a local homeless person, but an evacuee down on his luck in an unfamiliar city.

more....
http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/mld/ledgerenquirer/news/local/12583897.htm

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

1. Boy..repukes are even fucking up southern hospitality!

[Trillo]

2. Another First Amendment usurpation. nt

[DELUSIONAL]

3. What is going to happen to the thousands who evacuated on

their own and have no where to go?

I believe we will be hearing more stories about the people who will fall through the cracks.

This shame will continue . . .

[jean]

4. reality show contestants can 'panhandle' (Amazing Race) and be

televised nationally doing it with no blowback.

This is wrong - he needs to be released immediately.

[saigon68]

13. They are mostly white

[LostinVA]

14. To stick up for :"The Amazing Race"

Which is a really good show, the panhandling has (so far) occurred in countries other than America. Sometimes the contestants doing it aren't white (ex. Chip & Kim).

[Lindsay]

5. We cannot treat our fellow citizens this way.

I suspect this story will be repeated many, many times over the next few months. Nobody but the educated and wealthy can lose everything and survive on their own.

[countmyvote4real]

7. education does not = wealth in our society.

Yes, it is a ruby, but it does not guarantee cash. In fact, this administration despised education and people that are free to think for themselves.

[lonestarnot]

6. Jury nullification!

[Joebert]

8. I had a co-worker give me that the other day

Just think how many homeless and panhandlers we just sent to another town...

I told him I'd opened up two rooms in my house for people, and asked how his empty basement was doing...

He got the point, and is going to sign up.

[Art_from_Ark]

9. Damned if they do, damned if they don't

RW spew about people who stayed: "They should have evacuated on their own. It's their fault"
But to the ones who did evacuate: "They shouldn't be panhandling, even if they don't have any money."

Gotta love this "Christian" nation :crazy:

[NVMojo]

10. It's time to take the name of God off our money and everywhere else

it is used in government ...

[TOOLZ]

11. CNN: Hurricane survivor arrested for panhandling in Atlanta

He had slept in his car for two days with his brother, his brother's wife, and their two kids before panhandling. Apparently a cop gave him $7, while he arrested him.

I think that is the very definition of "Compassionate Conservatism." You get a meager hand out while you get arrested for surviving a neo-con fueled nightmare.


<www.toolz.blogs.com>

[saigon68]

12. Guess he didn't get his $2000.00 debit card yet

meanwhile the (Regular not hurricane homeless) sleep in boxes and on benches, while the Awol Chimpanzee in the white house dines on Lobster