Watch: Woman attacks young girl selling flowers outside bar at closing time

CHICAGO (WGN) – Surveillance video captured a woman approaching a young girl selling flowers in Chicago, then grabbing the child, pushing her to the ground and falling on top of her.

The chaotic scene happened just before 3 a.m. a few weeks ago outside Moe’s Cantina as the bar was closing for the night. Owner Sam Sanchez said the young girl has returned to the area since that incident.

Sanchez said he’s tried to help her, but has not been able to find her parents.

“I don’t know their need, but I know they don’t belong in the streets three, four o’clock in the morning,” Sanchez said. “I talked to her twice about that, keep trying to find out where her parents is to make a police report. Her parents are not around.”

The incident has left Maria Orozco with the Street Vendors Association of Chicago shaken.

Orozco said vendors of all ages regularly face harassment, racial profiling, verbal abuse and even robberies. She added while the organization does not support children being out late selling flowers or candy, she also said it’s important not to judge families who may be facing desperate circumstances.

“It was something very outrageous. You don’t expect to see things like this happen, but unfortunately, they do seem to happen more than we expect,” Orozco said. “Try to do canvassing around the downtown area as well to let these mothers know that they can’t be out with their kids, giving them resources as well for the kids to even be at daycare or anywhere that they could be safe while the parents are vending.”

Sanchez said that’s why he decided to release the surveillance video, hoping it sparks a broader conversation not just about the attack, but about the dangers child street vendors face while trying to help their families.

“If the parents want to be out selling at three o’clock in the morning…not the children,” Sanchez said.

Orozco said the Street Vendors Association of Chicago has not been able to find the young girl who was attacked, but they’re hoping to connect with her family so they can offer resources and help find a safer path for the child.

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