At a time when many Americans are disillusioned by the ineffectiveness of national politicians, Wesleyan students involved with the Middletown chapter of Food Not Bombs have proven that hard work and determination can go a long way in local politics. We are thrilled that Connecticut’s General Assembly has passed an amendment to the state food distribution law that will likely allow organizations like Food Not Bombs to share food made in private kitchens, especially given the role Wesleyan students have played in fighting to keep Food Not Bombs in operation.
Wesleyan students did not just meet adversity from the Middletown Health Department, which demanded that they shut down in early March of this year, but also from detractors who claimed that the students involved with the Middletown chapter were just trying to be controversial to gain publicity.
The new amendment validates Food Not Bombs’ refusal to bow down to an illogical bureaucratic decision that would have prevented them from making a crucial contribution to the Middletown community. It is also commendable that students were tirelessly fighting to keep an organization running that is not even affiliated with Wesleyan, working outside of the campus bubble to help people beyond our community.
Even more significantly, the amendment that resulted from Wesleyan students’ struggle will help protect other organizations investigated by the Middletown Health Department, such as the St. Vincent DePaul soup kitchen. Their efforts will help hungry people throughout the greater Middletown area get enough to eat.
In recent years, many individuals have claimed that Wesleyan’s community has become depoliticized; this victory serves as an answer to their complaints. Students fought for months in the public interest and had a serious impact. In fact, according to State Senator Paul Doyle, Wesleyan students’ determination may help other communities as well, for the amendment may set a precedent for other states to pass similar laws.
We are proud that members of our community have helped set in motion such an important change in the law, a change that Food Not Bombs member Fred Carroll believes is “one for the history books.” Let’s keep proving that Wesleyan’s passionate community can affect social justice not only on campus, but everywhere.
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