System's Tankian & Audioslave's Morello Not Down With Anti-Homeless Law

01/06/2003 6:00 PM, Yahoo! Music
Darryl Morden

(1/6/03, 6 p.m. ET) -- System Of A Down vocalist Serj Tankian and Audioslave guitarist Tom Morello took part in a march and demonstration on Friday (January 3) protesting a new ordinance in the city of Santa Monica, California, which makes it illegal to feed homeless persons.

Both Tankian and Morello held placards high and joined several dozen protesters, which included the homeless, chanting phrases, including "charity is not a crime." Former Rage Against The Machine member Morello has a long history of social activism and summed up his stance.

"We're here today as representative of Axis of Justice in defiance of the law, passing out lunch to the people here, and we're going to continue to feed the homeless in Santa Monica until they overturn this ridiculous law," Morello told LAUNCH.

System's Tankian, whose band also is known for voicing its political positions, said the oceanside community isn't the only city to consider such legislation.

"I was told that different cities are using this as a model, so I think the success of this protest and of feeding the homeless today is that important as far as that microcosm spreading to the macro, so that other cities will not, uh, re-enact the same type of legislation," Morello added.

The National Lawyers Guild, also present at the protest, filed a federal lawsuit Friday on behalf of charitable, religious, and other providers of free food to the homeless in Santa Monica. The lawsuit challenges the ordinance, which seeks to outlaw outdoor meal programs and food distribution on public sidewalks, and requires permits and health guidelines that are more in line with the regulating of restaurants.

The Guild accused the Santa Monica City Council of criminalizing "the age-old practice of providing for the hungry--a practice that is central to virtually all of the world's religions and humanitarian organizations."

Protesters also claim the ordinance is an attempt to purge the generally upscale city--once known for progressive tolerance--of its homeless population. The law was challenged at the end of a rally and press conference, with sandwiches, some canned goods and lollipops reading "war is for suckers," passed out to the homeless and others in attendance. No arrests for violations were made at the rally.

Axis Of Justice is an organization that advocates social change and seeks to raise awareness of injustices and wrongs, local, regional and worldwide. Its website is axisofjustice.org.

-- Darryl Morden, Los Angeles

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