Police in the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, violently evicted a few Senegalese vendors in the city of La Plata on Tuesday (July 28).

The police were insulting, screaming, and pushing the vendors.

According to witnesses, the incident began during a massive operation. Officers and agents of Urban Control from the municipality of La Plata confiscated merchandise from a vendor located at the corner of 8 and 50.

Soon, several vendors struggled with the agents and at least one Senegalese worker suffered a cut on his hand, according to the newspaper Hoy.

The police seized glasses, headphones, USB cables, and wristbands, among other merchandise. The sellers were charged with illegal sales.

Due to COVID-19, vendors haven't work for four months.

"If we go out, we have a lot of problems on the street," said one of the vendors.

At the end of June, the Migrant Coordinator and Counseling for Migrants (CM / CM), an NGO that advises migrants in La Plata, expressed its concern about the situation that Senegalese street vendors are going through in the context of the health emergency by COVID-19 since the vast majority was left out of state aid.

"The State must echo the needs of migrant groups who are in a vulnerable situation," they indicated when launching a campaign "If we are not killed by the coronavirus, we are killed by hunger."

According to the CM / CM, there are currently more than 200 Senegalese citizens living in the city of La Plata.

SHOTLIST:

1. Various of the eviction of Senegalese sellers
2. Various of Senegalese street sellers (FILE)

STORYLINE:

Police in the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina's capital, evicted Senegalese vendors in the center of the city of La Plata amid insults, screaming and pushing.

According to witnesses, the incidents began when, in a massive operation, officers and agents of Urban Control from the municipality of La Plata kidnapped merchandise from a vendor located at the corner of 8 and 50, in the heart of the commercial center of La Plata.

Soon, several vendors struggled with the agents and at least one Senegalese worker suffered a cut on his hand, according to the newspaper Hoy.

The police seized glasses, headphones, USB cables and wristbands, among other merchandise, and the sellers were charged with an illegal sale.

Due to the pandemic, vendors have not been able to work for four months. "If we go out we have a lot of problems on the street," said one of the vendors.

At the end of June, the Migrant Coordinator and Counseling for Migrants (CM / CM), an NGO that advises migrants in La Plata, expressed "its concern about the situation that Senegalese street vendors are going through in the context of the health emergency by COVID-19 "since the vast majority was left out of state aid.

"It is urgent that the State echo the needs of migrant groups who are in a vulnerable situation," they indicated when launching a campaign "If we are not killed by the coronavirus, we are killed by hunger."

According to the CM / CM, there are currently more than 200 Senegalese citizens living in the city of La Plata.