On Friday, an elotero man was killed while selling corn on the street in Fresno. His name was Jose Luis Rivera and he was 53-years-old.

According to witnesses, Rivera was working, riding his tricycle and selling snacks when an unmarked, dark-colored SUV pulled up to him and open-fired.

This so heartbreaking 😢. I don’t understand why people do this to them. They’re literally hustling for their families. I hope justice is served… pic.twitter.com/30f7LPCXUx

— CarlieKaku (@CarlieKaku) November 22, 2020

According to his family, Rivera died on the way to the hospital. The police and Rivera’s family do not know what motivated the killing.

Well known in the Fresno community and affectionately known as “Corn Man”, Rivera’s death death was immediately met with immense grief and outpouring of support for Rivera’s family. Local artist Omar ‘El Super’ Huerta even created a mural dedicated to Rivera. The mural has become a vigil with candles and flowers.

As for Rivera’s family, they are still in shock. The family set up a GoFundMe page to help pay for the funeral expenses and medical bills, but the family is still coping with the aftermath of this tragic and unexplained event.

“My family is grieving as we’ll never get to see him again,” wrote his son, Jose Rivera Jr., on their GoFundMe page. “We don’t know why he has taken from us.”

Rivera’s death is not the first assault against a street vendor this year.

According to Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy Eric Ortiz, violence against street vendors has risen in LA County since the onset of the pandemic at the beginning of this year. Although Fresno is not in LA County, it is worth noting that the rise in violence against street vendors is not an isolated incident.

Recently, a community activist named Marcos Navarro based in National City, California, began fundraising to provide paleteros, eloteros, and other street vendors with pepper spray to protect themselves from possible assailants.

“I wanted to put up some sort of protection so that way they can have a chance to run,” Navarro told CNN. “It’s not illegal to carry pepper spray and you can use it in self-defense.”

Unsurprisingly, the city of Fresno is grieving the loss of a beloved community figure.

RIP Jose Luis Rivera the Elotero killed in Fresno on Friday. This city always seems to disappoint me. I use to buy from him in tower 💔

— AP 🇰🇭 (@papixangelic) November 22, 2020

Many people in Fresno have personally bought corn from Rivera before. It makes his death all the more shocking.

People can’t comprehend the continued and escalating violence against eloteros across the country.

I really do not understand the hatred towards elotero and paletero men and women… they are just selling food !! LEAVE THEM ALONE.

— yvette (@yvettecorvett) November 24, 2020

Like every other person in the world, street vendors are simply trying to provide for their families by making an honest living.

Some people are calling for some larger systems to be put in place to protect elotero workers.

RIP to all the workers on the streets that are just trying to make decent living for their families. People are just so damn cruel..Elotero workers need to be protected!

— Bigappa (@Bigappa3) November 24, 2020

We hope this is the last we hear of such terrible and tragic violence against an innocent member of our society. Rest in Peace, Jose Luis Rivera.

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California’s Covid outbreak is reaching record levels. Californians are catching Covid at higher rates than any time during the pandemic. Gov. Gavin Newsom’s family is currently quarantining and eight California state politicians traveled to Maui despite travel warnings as Covid surges.

Gov. Gavin Newsom and his family are going into a 14-day quarantine.

Jen and I had no direct interaction with the officer and wish them a speedy recovery.

Thankfully, the entire family tested negative today. However, consistent with local guidance, we will be quarantining for 14 days.

— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) November 23, 2020

Covid-19 infections, hospitalizations, and deaths are on the rise in California as Thanksgiving approaches. The virus is spreading rampantly across the country and in several parts of the world as we enter the predicted second wave. The CDC has urged Americans not to travel for Thanksgiving in an attempt to slow the inevitable spread.

Gov. Newsom and his family face a potential exposure because of a California Highway Patrol officer who tested positive for Covid. A spokesperson for the governor said that one of the children was likely exposed at their private school after a classmate tested positive for the virus, according to ABC 7 News.

Earlier this month, Gov. Newsom set off a firestorm of outrage after he attended an in-restaurant dinner.

So @GavinNewsom goes to a dinner at the French laundry and violates everything he’s been telling us not to do, then goes ahead and puts every county in red and purple tier. pic.twitter.com/YscN9mLWEh

— Brandon Rojas (@brandonrojasg1) November 17, 2020

Gov. Newsom attended a dinner at The French Laundry in Yountville, California on Nov. 6. A week later, a reporter was tipped off to the dinner being indoor and maskless and pressed the governor on the matter. Gov. Newsom maintained that the dinner was outdoor. However, the photos of the event showed Gov Newsom and his wife sitting at a table with 10 other guests and enclosed on three sides.

On Nov. 19, Gov Newsom started to bring restrictions back in California to combat the fast spread of Covid-19. Several counties are being limited in their restaurant services to control the virus. Los Angeles County restaurants can only offer drive-thru, delivery, and take-out to prevent people from gathering in groups and further spreading Covid.

Forty-one counties in the state are listed as purple tier, or as having widespread community spread. These counties are currently facing widespread non-essential indoor business shutdowns. There is also a curfew in place for the state forcing businesses to close between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.

Also during this Covid spike, eight Calfornia assemblymembers attended a conference in Hawaii.

COVID numbers are booming in California and the Governor has issued a travel advisory asking people to avoid non-essential trips
State Assembly members Blanca Rubio & Wendy Carrillo are defending their decision to attend the annual Conference at the Fairmont Kea Lani on Maui https://t.co/jwk7EHIRhk

— Nelahism (@nela_minded) November 20, 2020

Assemblyman Frank Bigelow, State Senator Andreas Borgeas, Assemblywoman Wendy Carrillo, Assemblyman Jordan Cunningham, Assemblyman Heath Flora, Assemblyman Chad Mayes, Assemblyman Jose Medina, and Assemblywoman Blanca Rubio traveled to Hawaii despite urgent travel advisories.

The Independent Voter Project hosted the event at the Fairmont Kea Lani resort in Maui despite the spike in Covid cases. The theme of the conference was about revitalizing America’s economy after these Covid lockdowns. Most invitees declined to attend in person because of the pandemic. The Sacramento Bee reports that at least 20 lawmakers from California and other western states chose to attend the conference.

A tweet from Carrillo brought light to the lawmakers who secretly went to Hawaii.

🤩 Thank you #AD51! https://t.co/nAmvwhI3DL

— Wendy Carrillo (@AsmCarrillo) November 17, 2020

Technology is the biggest tattle tale, y’all. A tweet from Assemblywoman Carrillo marked her as in Kihei, Hawaii. It wasn’t long until people learned who from California was in Hawaii as millions went back into lockdowns.

“For those that are confused or angry as to why I’m here, I can assure you that I took great precaution and thought regarding my attendance,” Assemblywoman Carrillo told LAist. “I was informed that IVP is the first conference allowed and is being seen as a test as to what is possible. This helped inform my decision on what could be possible for California.”

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