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Spanish illegal street vendors union opens shop in Madrid

Madrid, Sep 11 (EFE) .- (Camera: Manuel Única) In the heart of Madrid's Lavapiés neighbourhood stands Pantera, a shop opened recently by the capital's "mantero's" (illegal street vendors) union and that represents a community project with which they want to leave the streets behind and have a "dignified life". FOOTAGE OF THE SHOP 'PANTERA' IN MADRID'S LAVAPIES NEIGHBOURHOOD.SOUNDBITES OF MALICK GUEYE, SPOKESMAN OF THE ILLEGAL STREET VENDORS UNION.Translation:"We started only two months ago. We've started here but the idea is to not only open one shop but to generate economy. We first wanted to open a restaurant so that 'manteros' (illegal street vendors) could work there, prepare food, but the project didn't move forward due to the pandemic. The idea is to create projects so that people stop selling in the street and so they can work and live with dignity. Everyone wants to have a dignified life. Being out in the street, always running away from the police... nobody wants that, people do it because they don't have a choice. In the union, we want to give them choices so they're not out in the streets selling."