Informal commerce is a daily reality in many Mexican cities. In tourist areas, such as downtown Guadalajara, Jalisco, street vendors set up shop in the streets to sell their wares, often without the required permits. This situation has prompted operations by municipal authorities to reclaim public space. However, these actions also generate mixed reactions, especially when they directly affect those who depend on this activity for survival.
A video went viral on social media showing the moment a tamale vendor in Guadalajara threw his wares to the ground to prevent them from being taken by City Hall officers. The incident, which was recorded and shared on the social network X (formerly Twitter) by journalist Luis Gabriel Velázquez, has generated a wave of comments and reactions from citizens.
“In downtown Guadalajara, Mexico, a tamale vendor chose to throw his wares on the ground instead of handing them over to City Hall inspectors,” Velázquez reported in his post.
As seen in the video, several inspectors approach the merchant with the intention of removing him from the premises. The man begins to argue with the officers and, amid the tension, decides to throw the tamales from his pot directly onto the ground. The action was applauded by some witnesses who came to his defense, pointing out that he was only trying to make a living.
The post has surpassed 600,000 views on social media, particularly on Facebook, where users expressed their dissatisfaction with the operation. “Dumbass, if the City Council had taken them, by paying the fine he would have gotten his product back,” wrote one user. Another commented: “What harm is a man selling tamales doing to them.”
On the other hand, some people defended the authorities’ actions. “Laws and regulations must be respected for the common good, otherwise we will end up living in anarchy and chaos,” reads another response.
The case has reignited the debate over the regulation of informal trade and the treatment of those who engage in it. While some consider these measures necessary to maintain order, others denounce the criminalization of poverty and the assault of people simply trying to survive.
The tamale vendor’s video not only portrays a moment of desperation, but also the constant tension between legality and survival on the Mexican streets.
Source: infobae
