- A 62-year-old street vendor is recovering after a brutally violent attack by another woman in broad daylight as bystanders in downtown Los Angeles looked on.
- The attack happened around 4 p.m. on June 15 in the 700 block of Figueroa Street, where Arabelia Martinez has sold hot dogs for years to support herself and her family.
- According to Garcia, the suspect approached his mother before the attack and attempted to intimidate her into giving her money.
- Garcia stated, ‘The lady came up to my mom trying to intimidate her and extort her for money, telling her she needed a permit to sell, which my mom does have.
- After failing to extort money, the suspect made racist remarks towards Martinez, telling her to ‘Go back to Mexico.’
- Garcia reported that his mother continues to suffer lingering effects from the attack, including persistent headaches.
- The incident has sparked outrage over the response from some witnesses who were nearby during the assault.
- Garcia questioned, ‘What’s going on with our society?’ expressing concern about societal desensitization to violence against vulnerable individuals.
- The Los Angeles Police Department has launched a battery investigation into the incident, but no suspect information or potential arrests have been released.
- Meanwhile, Martinez’s family has launched a GoFundMe to help with her recovery and raise awareness about the dangers street vendors face daily.
- Garcia expressed hope that his mother gets justice for what happened to her.
A 62-year-old street vendor, Arabelia Martinez, was brutally attacked in downtown Los Angeles on June 15, as she sold hot dogs to support her family. The assailant attempted to extort money from Martinez, making racist remarks before the violent confrontation.125
According to her son, Garcia, the suspect approached his mother, demanding money and claiming she needed a permit to sell, which Martinez possesses. After failing to intimidate her, the attacker resorted to violence, telling Martinez to 'Go back to Mexico.'3
Garcia expressed concern for his mother's health, stating, 'She keeps complaining about her head.' He emphasized the need for medical attention due to her ongoing pain.
The incident, which occurred around 4 p.m. in the 700 block of Figueroa Street, has raised questions about societal desensitization to violence, as bystanders did little to intervene. Garcia lamented, 'What’s going on with our society? Are we getting desensitized to an elderly woman being beaten in broad daylight?'
The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating the attack, but no arrests have been made. Meanwhile, Martinez's family has initiated a fundraising campaign to assist with her recovery and to highlight the dangers street vendors face daily. 'I hope that my mom gets justice for what happened to her,' Garcia said.911
“A 62-year-old street vendor, Arabelia Martinez, was violently attacked in downtown Los Angeles, prompting outrage over societal desensitization. The incident has led to a police investigation and a family campaign for her recovery.”
