Outrage erupted following the 2022 arrest of 78-year-old Norma Thornton, a grandmother from Arizona, for feeding homeless individuals in public, an action deemed illegal under local law.

Thornton, who has dedicated her life to helping the less fortunate, expressed disbelief at the situation, stating she initially thought her arrest was a prank.

“Still, I thought it was a kind of joke, someone playing a prank—until I was put in the back of the police car,” she told Fox 5 Vegas. “I have always believed that when you have plenty, you should share.”

In response to Thornton’s arrest, the Institute for Justice (IJ) filed a federal lawsuit against Bullhead City in October 2022 on her behalf.

The case centered around a local ordinance that made it a crime to share food in public parks for “charitable purposes.”

Recently, IJ reported that a U.S. district court ruled this law constitutional, further fueling the controversy.

IJ Senior Attorney Paul Avelar criticized the court’s decision, stating, “Americans have a constitutional right to engage in charitable activities, and cities can’t pass laws that outlaw doing so. The district court failed to grapple with the fact that charity is deeply rooted in American history. We look forward to proving to the appeals court that Bullhead City’s actions criminalizing charity violate Norma’s right to help others.”

The district court’s ruling asserted that while serving one’s community is important, it does not constitute a fundamental right.

This stance drew considerable backlash from supporters of Thornton and advocates for the homeless.

For decades, Thornton has devoted her time to assisting the less fortunate across various cities.

Her commitment to charity did not wane after her retirement, and she continued her philanthropic efforts in Bullhead City.

“Being told that I cannot feed the hungry is absolutely heartbreaking to me,” she said. “This is why I will continue fighting against this unjust law. All I want to do is help people in my community so they can survive and get back on their feet. It makes no sense for the city to prevent me from doing so.”

According to IJ, Bullhead City’s ordinance was enacted in 2021 and requires individuals to obtain a permit for sharing prepared food in public parks as part of a “non-social gathering” with “charitable purposes.”

However, the requirement is essentially a ban, as the costs associated with obtaining a permit are prohibitive. Furthermore, even with a permit, sharing food for charitable purposes is restricted to just once a month.

In stark contrast, Thornton could host a pizza party for 50 of her friends without any limitations, highlighting the arbitrary nature of the ordinance.

Each violation of this law carries severe penalties, including fines of up to $1,431, 120 days in jail, and 24 months of probation.

IJ Attorney Suranjan Sen remarked, “Homelessness is a multifaceted issue, but criminalizing efforts to help is absolutely the wrong solution. Government should be encouraging and facilitating Norma’s efforts, not threatening her with jail time.”

Determined to continue her fight for the right to help those in need, Norma and her attorneys from the Institute for Justice plan to appeal the court’s decision.

The case raises significant questions about the intersection of local law and the fundamental rights of citizens to engage in charitable acts, underscoring the need for a reevaluation of policies that hinder goodwill and community support.

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