Is there racial tension in Inglewood?

Marvin Carroll, the black man who was fired from SoFi Stadium where he knocked over all the merchandise of a hot dog vendor and injured his young daughter, has publicly apologized.

backed by civil rights activists who acknowledged racial tensions between both communities in Inglewood.

“I’m here to express my concern about the situation that happened over the weekend and I apologize to those who were hurt or hurt,” Carroll, 28, said.

Over the weekend, at the end of Dominican singer Romeo Santos’ concert at SoFi Stadium, Lesbia Morales left her daughter Marilyn to look after the cart while she went to the bathroom.

When he returned, he found the goods lying on the floor. Carroll would have pushed the cart that hit the minor in front of her 8- and 7-year-old brothers.

“Yesterday my leg hurt, I could hardly walk,” the girl complained.

At the corner of Prairie Avenue and Pinkai Drive, Naji Ali, director of the Islamic HOPE Project, and Skipp Townsend, executive director of 2nd Call, a community organization working to save lives, reduce violence, and help develop people at high risk, offenders, and those in on probation, admitted that there was tension between Inglewood’s African American and Hispanic communities.

“There was an argument with street vendors,” Townsend said. “A lot of people don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes. But when any street vendor is attacked or any street vendor claims to have been attacked, there are people like me in the community looking for solutions.”

The activist said that, having received Marvin’s phone number, he asked him: what was the quarrel about and why did the children suffer? .

“He told me that he never intended to harm the children, that it was a conversation he had with two other people,” was the response he received, noting that some people looked up Carroll’s previous addresses “and put their lives in danger.” “. .”

“I never condone harming a merchant or doing anything [malo] Against them. But there are people in the community that you can call and find a solution and help the street vendor get their money back, get back what was lost, but going to their house and doing something like that is inappropriate.”

So Marvin agreed that he would talk about his apology with the children of Lesbia Morales.

Since the 1990s, divisions have occurred in the Hispanic and African American communities, especially when gang members have killed each other.

The current situation, according to Townsend, “comes and goes, and it only takes one situation to light a flame for communities to come back to oppose each other.”

“For this reason, it is important that we have these conversations for dialogue and that no one harms our Latin American brothers and sisters,” he said. “And not talking to each other, which later turns into street violence.”

Naji Ali told La Opinión that there is tension in South Los Angeles, but it can be overcome by trying to stay united.

“African Americans and Hispanics live together in South Los Angeles, we work together and we go to school together. Therefore, we must live together in peace,” he said.

The human rights activist believed that people of both races compete due to the lack of jobs and resources in society and resources.

“Therefore, there is always competition between blacks and Hispanics in South Los Angeles when it comes to jobs and other resources vital to the survival of both communities,” he added.

– But in the case of Marvin Carroll’s aggression, there was no question of any competition for work, as it turned out.

“No. This should never have happened. And it was unsuccessful. We also saw other street vendors in South Los Angeles beaten, harassed and robbed, and that is why we stood up against any violence against any Hispanic street vendor.”

Both Naji Ali and Skipp Townsend agreed that they would recommend that Marvin Carroll enroll in anger management classes.

For his part, Rock Goches, a member of Unión del Barrio, an organization that advocates for immigrants, and vice president of the Los Angeles South Central Neighborhood Council, told La Opinión that the relationship between the two communities is “complicated.”

“We still have a lot of work to do in every attack on each other; I think that we have little research and knowledge, we have more in common than differences,” Goches assured.

“Any aggression is unjustifiable and we all have a responsibility to educate our youth, our families and our people to respect each other, because we are united by the fact that we were both victims of racists who discriminated against us.”

Christy Mexia, director of communications for SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park, released the following statement to La Opinión:

“We are aware that there was an incident outside the stadium on Saturday evening and we are working with the police to investigate this matter. The person involved was hired by a third party vendor and we are informed that they have since been laid off. Maintaining a secure environment is our number one priority, and we will continue to regularly evaluate the staff and protocols of all our providers to ensure an enjoyable experience.” – SoFi Stadium.

Questions to Marvin Carroll

La Opinión approached an African American man who allegedly attacked Hispanic children when he knocked over Lesbia Morales’ hot dog cart.

– If you say that you did not intend to harm anyone, what were you thinking then?

“This is an ongoing investigation, I cannot answer questions of this nature.”

What do you think about the relationship between African Americans and Hispanics? Is it good, bad, regular?

“Relationships can be better, but I personally support the Hispanic community, even the street vendors. I love eating at taco stands and hot dog stands,” Carroll said.

“The fact that it is a presentation [el incidente] as a racial issue it is problematic for me; That’s another problem that I have, that they think that I wanted to hurt the kids or that I’m going to have problems with the Hispanic community, you know. when in fact I’m a person who supports the Hispanic community.”

He added that “the kids in my family are half Hispanic. So, I want these two things to be known because I have no problem with the Hispanic community and I will never harm any child. I like kids”.

What is your message to the Hispanic community about dealing with the African American community here in Inglewood.

“Sporadic incidents can cause more friction between our communities; we can talk peacefully and find a solution to the problem that has arisen between us. The case can be resolved by leaving the line of communication open to move forward.”

So why the aggressive reaction?

“I have never interacted with these children, if you publish video cameras, you will see that I have never interacted with children; I was talking to another man. And like I said, I apologize to those kids.”

Carroll claimed that the man he was arguing with repeatedly insulted him with the “N” word and repeatedly showed him disrespect.

What people say:

“I love these hot dogs they sell on the street and this boy was wrong. Latin Americans are very decent and hardworking people.”

Robert Hill, 70 years old. Retired

“It’s not good what that boy did [Marvin Carroll] I don’t know what was on his mind. Selling on the street is the way these people make a living.”

Kenneth Drinkhard, 42 Tow truck driver.

“Honestly, African Americans and Hispanics are not very close. There is enough racial tension to erupt at any moment; we each have our own racial prejudice.”

Marel Terregone, 23 years old. LAKS employee.

“For me, the web that I see is that there is racism against us because they attack our ice cream vendors and ice cream vendors. I don’t think anything will change.”

Osmin Mazariegos, 49 years old. Builder.

“There are people who respect and others who don’t. I have many African American friends and have never had a problem living with them. Everything depends on respect for each other.”

Mayra Gonzalez, 33 years old. Popeye employee.

“I get along well with African Americans. They are good customers, they are kind and polite, and with many of them I live close to my house; In addition, there are not as many executions now as there were in 1990.”

Aida Romero, 54 years old. Saleswoman on the street.