Yaneth Franco, the brave woman, a street vendor, who confronted hooded men in the midst of acts of vandalism.
In the streets of the neighborhood Verbenalin it north of Bogotáthe smell of hot oil and chorizo is the daily prelude to a work day that begins before the sun rises. There, among the bustle of passers-by and the bustle of the city, is the Mrs. Yanetha woman whose life seemed destined for the anonymity of the informal economy until the roar of protests and vandalism hit her position.
Today, after being elected as Person of the Year by the Bogotá Councilhis name resonates as one of the greatest symbols of civil resistance in the capital.
The day fear changed sides
The scene that catapulted her into the country’s collective memory seems taken from a fiction film, but it was a harsh reality. In the middle of a day of strong riotsa group of hooded broke into the sector, blocking roads and threatening to destroy public furniture and commercial premises that are the livelihood of hundreds of families in Verbenal.
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While many sought refuge, Mrs. Yanethwith the apron on and the authority that only years of experience give honest workstood in front of the violent protesters. Without weapons, without shields and without more protection than his word, he demanded of them respect for the neighborhood and the right to work.
His image, coming face to face with men who were hiding their faces, went viral not because of the violence of the encounter, but because of the moral force of a woman who refused to allow chaos to destroy what it has taken her community decades to build.
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A heroine with tough hands
Doña Yaneth’s story does not begin with that confrontation. She represents that invisible Colombia who gets up at three in the morning. For years, his position empanadas and arepas It has been their economic trench.
With the profits from each sale, peso by peso, he has achieved the miracle of educate your childrena goal that in the Colombian social context is a true feat for an independent street worker.
For him Bogotá Councilgive him the title of Character of the Year It was not just a protocol act, but a political and social message. It’s about recognition
Source: Council of Bogotá, La FM
