10-year-old T-shirt salesman told to pack up

TAMPA -- At the entrance of the footbridge across Dale Mabry Highway to George M. Steinbrenner Field, Brima Jallow straightened up piles of T-shirts and counted out change.

"$10," the quiet Georgia native told inquiring Barack Obama supporters. Brima's school gives students a fall break, and he took the trip down to Florida with his dad, Alusina Jallow, to see his favorite candidate.

Jallow said he and his son have been following the election on the news for months. Born in Sierra Leone, he said he understands the American dream. He said he hopes Obama can improve America's image around the world by getting out of Iraq and restoring economic confidence.

"When America sneezes, the whole world catches cold," Jallow said. Brima said he's excited about the prospect of the first black president.

After handing over a couple more Obama shirts to passing customers, a couple of security officers told Brima and his dad to pack up. They didn't have a permit to sell merchandise near the field. It's public property, Officer Ralph Kelly explained. "The law is the law."

Jallow sighed, Brima just shrugged. It's not the sale he was excited about most -- it's the man on the fabric.

Kim Wilmath, Times staff writer

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