Philly Plain Dealer

“¡Basta ya!; Enough is enough! ¡Basta ya!; Enough is enough, ¡Basta ya!; Enough is enough”, was the chant that could be heard from Love Park to City Hall early this Thursday morning. 

Over a 100 individuals representing The Dominican Grocers Association (DGA) gathered to peacefully protest what they perceive to be a lack of concern from city officials and law officials regarding their businesses. The concerns being protection from violence, fair inspections, stopping the removal of tobacco licenses and the closing of stores. 

The Dominican Grocers Association is a member group of primarily Dominican store owners in Philadelphia. There are roughly 2,000 stores that are a part of the DGA. The DGA is a nonprofit organization that assists grocery store owners in establishing, maintaining and improving their businesses. Additionally they coach and guide store owners through business ownership. 

The protest started out with testimonies from the families of slain victims of violence followed by a march from Love Park to City Hall and ended with a tribute to Philadelphia’s victims of violence. 

Over the last two to three years the violence plaguing these stores has taken the lives of 4 members of the DGA due to gun violence, and left one member in stable condition in the hospital. Ignacio Rodriguez, Jose Almonte Garcia, Yael Bravo, and Elbis M Rodriguez were the individuals slain while working. And Michel Gomez, who was shot 13 times while working, and is still in the hospital. 

““I was held up at gunpoint in my own store when I was 7 months pregnant, about 4 years ago. The police never came and the case was never solved. No más muerte,” Said Elizabeth Rodriguez, member of the Dominican Grocers Association

During the protest members of the DGA also expressed how quickly tobacco licenses seem to get pulled for no reason. But then new convenience stores in other neighborhoods appear to get the licenses right away. Tobacco products are a lifeline for many of the DGA’s stores as they are a primary source of income. Store owners at the protest also demanded better and fair service by city inspectors.

“The city inspectors treat us worse than criminals, and talk to us store owners like we’re animals,” Said Frank Rosario , member of the Dominican Grocers Association

Other individuals who belong to the DGA expressed that city officials need to step up their presence. Rosario relayed that when they reach out to law enforcement and officials that no one responds. 

“City Hall is right where a lot of the officials are. Why are none of them here? But when it comes to election time they come to our businesses to get our vote,” Said Frank Rosario 

Rosario also relayed that other convenience stores and corner stores are allowed to function properly.  But yet, the Dominican Grocers owned stores appear to be the victim of prejudice and are not allowed to operate fully. 

“We pay taxes, we demand to be treated like other store owners. We want work!”, Said Elizabeth Rodriguez  

 Rosario continued by stating that he had invited the head supervisor of the Department of Tobacco to meet with members of the DGA. She responded by saying, “I don’t know if i can go to that, I have to ask my supervisor,”.  Rosario stated that he never received a response and believes that the DGA ignored.  

“ To the tobacco department, who has a desire to take licenses from the Dominican grocery stores,  that’s our livelihood. The Dominican grocery stores have been here since the 90’s. We cannot allow you to just take us out. We will not let that happen,” Said Frank Rosario

Better service by inspectors, better protection, just rights and the ability to operate. That is what members of the DGA desire.This peaceful protest was just one step in that direction.

For more information, visit:https://dominican-grocers-association.business.site/