When Cinthia Soriao, Edgar Hernández and Sesarin Hernández established their position fresh waters with a gallon of extra milk on Sunday morning, they never imagined that they would use it to quell the burning gas burning hours later.
The trio sells hot and fresh dogs of the historic the Plaza de Cultura y Artes, next to the Church of Our Lady, the Queen of Los Angeles. Most weekends, their customers consist of parishioners after service or baptism. Sunday were manifest people locked A dramatic shock with the Los Angeles Police Department and the National Guard About a series of Immigration and Customs Control sweeps that occur in Los Angeles And in the process of serving them, Soriao and the brothers Hernández grave fireworks, hid under their food post and poured surplus milk in the eyes of the protesters who had inhaled tear gas.
Like multiple street vendors, this trio helped to nurture the city for a tense weekend that saw more than 70 arrests, generalized vandalism and The cars lit. Some sellers sold hot dogs on highway 101 when the protesters and the application of the law took the stretch of the road on foot. Others establish fruit cars near the City Council. Community Aid Foods No Bombas DTLA Distributed free meals based on plants from a bicycle trailer, its hand painted sign stamped with a high fist that grabs a carrot.
While they served water, juice and hot dogs with the head of pepper during the fray, Soriao and the Hernándeos were found in the center of the action on Sunday, the third day of the protests, almost the police shoot.
Cinthia Soriao Reina Hot Dogs in her position next to the church of our Lady Queen of the Angels in Los Angeles on Monday.
(Stephanie Breijo / Los Angeles Times)
“We were in the midst of everything that happened,” said Edgar Hernández on Monday afternoon. “The police were shooting tear gas and there was a point where the barrier was here, and they were about to shoot. We crouched down the table and a policeman said: 'Oh, they are just selling.' We were lucky.”
Hernández operates the stand with his girlfriend, Soriao, and his brother. Normally, he said, they would close their cart at the end of the afternoon, but the businesses were so lucrative that they stayed until 9 pm survived all the other vendors in the final stretch, and one even left a handwritten sign for tacos and tamales while they fled.
From behind his rainbow umbrella and a row of colorful drinks, the waters witness rubber bullets, explosions, tear gas, labeled and shouting for hours. On the other side of the square, multiple Waymo Taxis fell caught without a driver.
“We didn't know they were going to end here,” said Soriao. “We thought everyone would stay on the highway, and then they came with fireworks. It was like, 'my God, that scares.'”
Many of their usual customers stayed at home, fearful of attending the church on Sunday. But the vendors found a purpose when serving their new clientele, and when the protesters said they only had limited means, Soriao and the Hernándeos gave them discounts.
Many, they said, were thirsty after a full day of march and activism. Some approached with red eyes, and sellers poured their surplus milk on their faces to relieve the effects of tear gas. Many, said Edgar Hernández, joined the protests as soon as his eyes had been treated.
“We hope he did it in the history books as the only sellers here they stayed,” he said.
Stefany González Asa to the Hot Dogs wrapped in Bacon in Grand Park during a protest for the release of the leader of the Union David Huerta on Monday.
(Stephanie Breijo / Los Angeles Times)
On the other side of highway 101, Stefany González sold his hot dogs wrapped in the center for three hours on Sunday, until his mother told him to return home because the protests seemed too dangerous. For Monday morning, she did it again.
González operates his food business with his mother, who moved to Los Angeles from El Salvador and taught González to cook. In general, the young seller establishes his cart near the Dorothy Chandler pavilion, often serving the center's office workers in his pauses for lunch. During the weekend he found that his clientele was mainly protesters and felt that he had to leave when he saw people throwing objects on Sunday afternoon.
He tried again because “it is important to support the community,” González said.
When he returned the next day, he found a different type of protest in the center and went to the center.
On Monday afternoon, González sold Hot Dogs wrapped in bacon and chamuscó peppers on a path on Grand Park, where A Pacific Rally He requested the launch of the activist and president of the Union David Huerta. Later that day, Huerta was liberated from custody After your arrest Ice raids related.
The former candidate for state assembly Justine González came to Grand Park to attend the demonstration of Huerta, but could not find a near restaurant or cafeteria. Fortunately, he said, there were street vendors.
Juan Lux parked his car selling hot fruits and dogs in the center of Grand Park in downtown Los Angeles.
(Stephanie Breijo / Los Angeles Times)
“I was so worried, everything is closed,” he said. “I came today to support the protest and join it, but I also need to drink water, so I was very happy to find a seller. I was concerned how far I would have to travel.”
He had found the fruitful Juan Lux, who usually sells near the Federal Building, but established his hot dog car and his fruit support in the corner of Grand Park, next to the Stanley Mosk Palace of Justice, for the rally.
“It is important to help protesters,” Lux said. Behind him, in the park, the crowd raised the “resistance to fascism” banners and “ice outside” signs. “I have done it before with other protests, and I am happy to be here, helping.”
