Please use the donation button to support buyouts for vendors in our communities at risk of unlawful abduction by the department of homeland security’s immigration and customs enforcement. Buying them out allows them to close up shop early or simply stay home instead of risking everything.
Pedro, in his fifties, has now set up his OJ stand in East Hollywood going on five years. Even at the height of ICE raids, including when they stormed the community’s local Home Depot, he still set out to vend because the small business is his primary source of income; he’s incredibly quick on his feet and sells with a sparkle in his eyes, as if the oranges he surrounds himself with give him an extra bit of zest above the rest.
Diene is a woman in her mid to late forties who’s vended alongside her husband in East Hollywood from their food truck over the last two years. When we got her some funds recently, she broke down into tears; sales have declined substantially since the mass roundups began on June 6th, but she’s still brought out the truck to offer hot dogs, pupusas, and tacos to one and all. Their dishes have been especially key for construction workers from across the street who’ve got few other options for affordable meals.
Alex & Frank are two brothers, college age, who’ve taken time away from their studies to support their dad’s stand in Virgil Village. The brothers set up nightly around 6 PM and work until about 2:00 AM, and while the hostility of the political environment has ramped up recently, the fact is that they’ve been taking risks alongside their dad for quite some time now, going back to even before the pandemic. Probably the best dish they serve up before or after an adventurous evening through the city is their carne asada quesadilla. We’re salivating now just thinking about it!
These are just a few of the people and stories we’ve found through the devastating events of the last couple of months, and there’s more! While we don’t know what else the future holds, we are confident our community can keep showing up for them, one bit of support at a time.
– Quien Es