Video surfacing online shows security guards pepper spraying and toppling street vendor stalls in the East Bay.

The incident happened last weekend at Rowell Ranch Rodeo Park in Castro Valley.

“It was very emotional for us. I mean, we’re just trying to make a living,” said hot dog vendor Teresa Martinez, who was one of the vendors there.

She said they’ve been coming to events and selling hot dogs there for years, and never had a problem.

“We were just selling hot dogs out here in front of the intersection here, and we don’t have the permits to do that,” Martinez said. “Like every day, we’re just trying to get some money to survive.”

The Hayward Area Recreation and Parks District said the space had been rented by a private party to hold an event and they had to engage their own security.

“We appreciate the community’s concern, as we are also concerned, and are currently reviewing the event and investigating the incident,” Hayward Recreation and Parks District spokeswoman Nicole Espinoza said. Roa.

The promoter is Hayward-based Farallon and said vendors were not allowed to be there. When security tried to get them to leave, they refused.

He claimed one of them threw cooking grease at a security guard and even pulled out a knife.

Sellers dispute this.

“We didn’t do anything else, you know? There are ways to ask people and talk to people,” Martinez said. “We are not animals.”

Alameda County Sheriff’s Deputies showed up and subpoenaed, then released one of the vendors, but are still investigating.

They said security guards can use pepper spray to protect themselves or others to break up a fight or gain compliance.

The developer said it was also looking into the matter and speaking with the security company on Saturday.