President Claudia Sheinbaum spoke out about the recent police aggression in Querétaro against indigenous vendors and indicated that dialogue should prevail in situations regarding street commerce regulation. "There can be a program for regulating street commerce, but it must be resolved through dialogue, right?", Sheinbaum stated.
She emphasized the importance of providing alternatives for those who depend on this activity for their livelihood. Sheinbaum recalled that in Mexico City, similar commercial regulation programs were implemented, stressing that any conflict should be addressed with respect and communication.
"The people working in public spaces, if they're not going to be in a location because of a regulation program, then alternatives must be provided, because these are families living with dignity," she pointed out.
She also mentioned that at some point, an incident arose with an inspector in the capital, but the lack of dialogue was condemned and the search for peaceful solutions and alternatives for everyone was prioritized. "We always seek dialogue, guidance, and alternatives to provide a livelihood for all Mexicans engaged in this noble activity."
During the weekend, in Querétaro, indigenous vendors were selling their products on the street when municipal police attempted to evict them, apparently as part of an operation to "regulate" commerce on the streets of the historic center.
According to Luis Nava, mayor of Querétaro, the artisans disregarded the police instructions regarding the commerce regulation protocol, which escalated into a confrontation; on Monday, agreements were reached in which the authorities committed to providing them with more space. The operation resulted in a confrontation where physical aggression against the vendors was reported.
Some videos and testimonies shared on social media show how several of these vendors were detained and allegedly beaten by the police. The incident provoked criticism and complaints from both the local community and human rights organizations, which claim that the police action was excessive and violated the rights of the indigenous vendors.
