CHICAGO (WGN) — Vendors at the Swap-O-Rama Flea Market on Ashland Avenue in the Back of the Yards neighborhood say they are struggling, and they’re asking both the public and management for help.
They’re not only calling for better protection but also urging community members to continue showing up to support them.
On top of already low sales, which many vendors attribute to the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in Chicago, they are now facing a growing boycott from people who believe Swap-O-Rama could have done more to stop federal agents from entering the property.
But vendors warn that the boycott will only hurt working families.
“Don’t punish the vendors for something that’s not their fault. Instead, call for action from the management of Swap-O-Rama,” vendor Maritza Jaimes said.
Jaimes’ parents have been selling boots at the market for decades. She says they, along with many others, are now feeling the impact of fear as low attendance, empty aisles and closed stands are becoming more common.
“Because we have seen how federal agents take no regard for what your immigration status is,” Jaimes said. “You’re just getting racially profiled based on the way you look, so I think people are scared, regardless of their immigration status, to come and open their stand or even to shop here.”
According to Alderwoman Julia Ramirez, it was around 10 a.m. Thursday when more than 20 federal agents arrived at Swap-O-Rama and detained at least 15 people.
In a statement she said, “Yesterday, Saturday, there were very few vendors and customers. It was chilling to see the vacancy. These forms of escalation are instilling fear throughout our city and it’s time for businesses and elected officials alike to work together to create safe spaces on private property.”
One vendor, who asked not to be identified out of fear of losing his stand, shared how serious the situation has become for those who rely on the market as their livelihood.
“It’s a difficult situation for us because we depend on this, on the sales. Some people don’t have a job; this is their life. I understand the community is mad, so are we,” he said.
In the days since the incident, a boycott movement targeting Swap-O-Rama has spread online. Jaimes hopes people think twice.
“This is not like when you boycott any other major corporation, when you boycott Swap-O-Rama, you’re boycotting a lot of Latino families that depend on this income,” she said. “At the end of the day, the vendors still have to pay the rent to management.”
In a statement, Swap-O-Rama responded:
For generations, Swap-O-Rama has been where families build their future and culture thrives. What happened on Oct. 16 caused real pain to individuals and families, to vendors, to customers and to all of us who believe in what this place represents.
Despite the statement, vendors say they haven’t seen any concrete changes.
“Some of those actions that we want to see from Swap-O-Rama is declaring that this is a private space because we know the law is on our side. It is a private space, that’s not even disputable,” Jaimes said.
Jaimes says her parents’ stand has not only supported their family but also helped send her and her siblings to college. Now, vendors are simply asking for protection so they can continue working and providing for their families.
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