Capri Maddox, executive director of the Los Angeles Civil Human Rights and Equity Department, stressed that the city supports street vendors and will not tolerate discrimination and violence. (photo courtesy of the L.A. Civil, Human Rights and Equity Department)

Representatives of the Los Angeles Civil, Human Rights and Equity Department joined city and county leaders and a coalition of social justice organizations on July 6 to condemn violence, harassment, extortion and intimidation of street vendors.

The group held a press conference at Los Angeles City Hall to call attention to the assault of a longtime street vendor in Downtown Los Angeles at Figueroa Boulevard and 7th Street. Officials and advocates stood in unity to denounce the attack and highlight victim resources while encouraging victims to report hate crimes. The group reaffirmed the city’s commitment to protecting immigrants and the small business community.

“At L.A. Civil Rights, our core mission is to protect the vulnerable and fight hate and discrimination on both offense and defense. We want to remind all Angelenos they do not have to ignore discrimination or suffer in silence,” said Capri Maddox, executive director of the Los Angeles Civil Human Rights and Equity Department. “Our mission motivated us to organize and activate today’s press conference on behalf of Mayor Karen Bass – to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Ms. Arabelia Martinez following a horrific act of violence, extortion, harassment and a possible hate crime. For more than 30 years, Ms. Martinez has been a vital part of our street vending community and we are here to send a strong message, ‘hate has no home in Los Angeles.’ When you come for one of us, you come for all of us.”

Martinez was joined at the press conference by her son, Constantino Garcia. Los Angeles City Councilwoman Ysabel Jurado, 14th District, and Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman also attended in a show of solidarity.

A 19-year-old woman has been charged with violently attacking 60-year-old Martinez on June 15 outside the FIGat7th shopping center. Harmunie Heaven Church faces one felony count each of assault likely to produce great bodily injury, aggravated battery and vandalism. She pleaded not guilty to all counts during an arraignment on June 29 and is scheduled to return to court for a preliminary hearing on July 13. Church is being held on $105,000 bail.

“Street vendors and small business owners deserve to work without fear of violence or intimidation,” Hochman said. “This was an alleged brutal attack on a member of our community, and we are hopeful the victim makes a full recovery from her injuries. Our office will aggressively prosecute those who target vulnerable victims and small business owners, and we will seek to hold the defendant fully accountable for this senseless act of violence.”

The group stressed the importance of reporting violence and hate incidents to law enforcement.

“Street vendors are part of the very fabric of Los Angeles. They deserve to work safely, be treated with dignity and know their city stands with them,” Maddox said. “We want every Angeleno to understand this: no matter your citizenship status, your permit status, your country of origin or the language you speak, you have rights. If you experience or witness a crime, call 911 immediately. If you are a crime victim, think you’re a possible victim, or see someone else mistreated, report it. If you experience discrimination, we urge you to file a civil rights enforcement claim with our department by visiting laisforeveryone.com. Los Angeles is for everyone, and we will protect our community.”