A New York man took to TikTok to share his disgust after he witnessed police dismantling a fruit vendor’s stand.
Posted by TikTok user Godequitylaw, GEL is heard shaming the police for their behavior. On TikTok, he wrote in the caption: “The police are the supreme law of the land and can do what ever they want like take away this peaceful woman’s livelihood. This is how they purport to make America great. Great for the big businesses.”
In his TikTok video, GEL speaks on the injustice of someone trying to “make some money” selling groceries. After all, they weren’t selling drugs or committing a crime. “This is what they get paid to do, to destroy lives,” GEL says, and immediately calls out the police. They say nothing in response, other than that it’s “illegal.”
GEL argues otherwise, stating the Constitution protects the sellers and that the police should be the ones reading it. “Right now she’s trying take care of her family. Y’all got nothing better to do.” Meanwhile, one of the officers is seen taking down the price signs and throwing them away in the nearest garbage can.
GEL continues, asking the police officers repeatedly what the First and Fourth Amendment Rights are. “They swore an oath to uphold the Constitution which they violating right now. They have no clue what the Constitution even says,” GEL says. He claims that no cop he’s ever met has been able to recite any Amendments.
While the fruit vendor gathers their fruit, GEL berates the cops with his knowledge, reciting several rights he won’t let police violate, calling them “pigs,” and making it clear he’ll look up their records to see if they’re “clean.”
How commenters are reacting to GEL’s TikTok video
Not only were there plenty of viewers who made their frustration with New York police known, but some sided with the police. The reason? The naysayers were more concerned about a permit than someone’s rights.
“They can, if they have permits to sell on the street…” wrote TikTok user Legendary_009. GEL responded, telling the viewer to stop “spewing trash” and to read up on the Constitution. “They do not need permits,” GEL asserts in the thread.
Other viewers who shared the same sentiment got pushback from other commenters. “Whose rights are the vendors depriving? Whose the victim to her selling fruit?” TikTok user Phrozenpu wrote in response to the need for a permit.
Another commenter argued businesses paying “high rent to sell produce” are losing out, but GEL fired back in the thread. He pointed to numerous recalls by businesses that provide “bad services with high prices.” Aside from a license, one user did bring up the lack of a health inspection, but again, GEL wouldn’t have it on the grounds of someone’s right to sell.
However, some users felt the police could be doing something more important than dismantling someone trying to make a living. As one user put it: “It’s a ticket at best, this is extra.” If the police really wanted to do their job, they could’ve connected the vendor with the right people so she could keep selling.
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