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August 4, 2017

Attack on L.A. Elote Seller Spurs Campaign for the City's 50,000 Street Vendors
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In Los Angeles, an elote-or roasted corn-street vendor has become a folk
hero in the ongoing campaign to "Legalize Street Vending" for some
50,000 workers in the area, a large majority of whom are Latinos and/or
immigrants. Benjamín Ramírez filmed himself being attacked by a man who
knocked over his cart after telling him to move off the sidewalk. When
Ramírez stood his ground, telling the man that there was room for him to
walk, the man knocked the cart over, spilling utensils, coolers and
corn. The video went viral at the end of July. Advocates say because the
street vending industry is not fully regularized, some vendors are
afraid to contact police after being physically attacked. Orange County
Weekly columnist Gustavo Arellano featured Ramírez as "the Every Hombre"
and also lauded him for neutralizing his assailant with chili pepper.
Cartoonist Lalo Alcaraz is selling "Elote Justice" prints and donating
half of the proceeds to Benjamín. A Go Fund Me campaign is also underway
for Ramírez and other eloteros who have had their carts damaged in
attacks.


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