As Supreme Court Hears Johnson v. Grants Pass, Congressman Maxwell Frost Joins Orlando Advocates to Echo Calls to End Criminalization of Homelessness
Watch Rep. Frost’s Remarks Outside of the Supreme Court From Last Week
ORLANDO, FL — Today, Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost (FL-10) joined local advocates to echo calls to end the criminalization of folks experiencing homelessness as the Supreme Court hears oral arguments today in Washington, D.C. on Johnson v. Grants Pass, a potentially landmark case that will decide whether cities are allowed to jail, ticket, or fine people for sleeping outside.
Frost, who joined local leaders for a rally hosted by the Central Florida Commission on Homelessness, the Homeless Services Network of Central Florida, and the Christian Service Center, advocated for solutions to the housing crisis to get to the root cause of the problem facing cities.
“It’s a shame that cities across the country are passing ordinances criminalizing folks experiencing homelessness, but the truth of the matter is that what these cities are also criminalizing are the results of the inaction of our elected leaders,” said Congressman Maxwell Frost. “We cannot arrest ourselves out of this problem. This Supreme Court cannot encourage the actions of cities and governments that have failed to help their people in a time of need. We know the solution to our housing crisis, and it’s not fines and handcuffs.”
Last week, Rep. Frost also joined Congresswomen Cori Bush (MO-01), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), and Ilhan Omar (MN-05) alongside national housing advocates from the National Homelessness Law Center, Southern Poverty Law Center, National Alliance to End Homelessness, and the National Coalition for the Homeless for a press conference in front of the Supreme Court ahead of today’s oral arguments.
Earlier this year, the City of Orlando passed its own ordinance allowing police to arrest or fine anyone intentionally blocking public sidewalks, a move that many worry could target unsheltered people.
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