A chaotic video has recently emerged on social media showing a New York City parks employee cuffing a 14-year-old girl who was selling fruit alongside her family. The incident took place in Inwood Hill Park in upper Manhattan on Friday evening.
In the video, several bystanders can be seen trying to pull the girl away from the employee as she pleads for help and cries out “I didn’t do anything wrong”. However, their efforts were in vain as the employee continued to restrain the teenager.
The family of the girl later identified her as Emily Gil. They explained that they were selling fruit near the park entrance as they have been doing for years, when the parks employee approached them and asked to see their permit. The family claims that they did not have a permit but were simply trying to make some extra money during these difficult times.
According to the New York City Parks Department, vending on city property without a permit is illegal and can result in fines or confiscation of goods. However, many people have criticized the employee’s handling of the situation, especially as it involved a young girl.
The video has sparked outrage on social media with many calling for accountability from both the employee and the department. Some have even organized a protest at Inwood Hill Park over the incident.
While this is not an isolated incident, it sheds light on the struggles faced by street vendors, particularly during the pandemic. According to a report by the Street Vendor Project, there are over 20,000 street vendors in New York City and many of them face harassment and discrimination from authorities.
In response to the incident, Mayor Bill de Blasio stated that he was disturbed by what he saw in the video and that an investigation into the matter has been launched. The employee involved has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
As for Emily Gil and her family, they have received an outpouring of support from their community with some even offering to cover any potential fines or legal fees they may face. Many have also called for more support for small businesses and street vendors in light of this incident.
This is a developing story and we will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available. In the meantime, this incident has sparked an important conversation about the treatment of street vendors and their rights in New York City.
