The Top Manta union organizes a race with a laudable and necessary cause. Aziz Faye, the spokesperson for the street vendors, explains: "It must be a historic and forceful mobilization against racism and hate speech." It will be, for sure. Needless to say, I am in favor of races against racism and hate, although I am against, I can't help it, stallholders who don't pay VAT.
Street vendors are characterized, as we know, by selling counterfeit products. This raises some concerns for me, which I will discuss below. I understand that, as always happens in races, some of the organizers will also make the gesture of running. Considering the many races that take place in Barcelona—in some of which I have participated with pleasure—could it happen that this race overlaps with another? I think, for example, that it would be unedifying for it to overlap with the El Corte Inglés market, given that the street vendors' collective is a direct competitor—unfairly, yes—of the establishment in Plaza Catalunya. But it would be even less edifying for it to overlap with the equally famous Guardia Urbana race. If that were the case, it would be unethical for the street vendors' race to start a little earlier, especially because it might make us think about our tradition of watching them run ahead of each other, like every day, shouting ""water!~
Above all, I think about the gifts. At traditional races, you usually receive a bag and a T-shirt in exchange for registration. These are from some sports brand, like Nike or Asics. I wonder if the ones the organizers give us are authentic, or if, as I hope, they're LNA.
