Racist remarks by LA City Council President Nury Martinez call for her immediate dismissal
Los Angeles City Council Speaker Newry Martinez apologized Sunday for remarks she made “in a moment of intense frustration and anger,” while City Councilman Mike Bonin called for her removal and resignation as president. .
The comments Martinez was referring to stemmed from conversations about the redistricting process around October 2021. According to the Los Angeles Times.
According to the paper, Martinez, Rep. Gil Sedillo, Kevin De Leon and Los Angeles County Labor Union President Ron Herrera participated in a conference call with Rep. Mark Ridley Thomas, who has been indicted on federal corruption charges. We also talked about
According to The Times, Martinez and other Latino leaders who answered the phone didn’t seem to know it was being recorded.It remains unclear who recorded and leaked the audio. is.
During the conversation, according to the newspaper, Martinez said of Bonin’s son, who is black, “Palace Changeet‘ translates from Spanish to English as ‘that little monkey’.
The Times also reported that Martinez appeared to be discussing Bonin’s child’s behavior during a parade.[t]Hey, raising him like a little white kid. I thought this kid needed a beatdown. He will take you to the corner and then bring you back. ”
According to The Times, De Leon was also credited with likening Bonin’s treatment of children to “when Nully brings in a little yard bag or a Louis Vuitton bag.”
On Sunday, Martinez released the following statement to CBS Los Angeles after the Times article was published.
“In a moment of intense frustration and anger, I am doing the best I can with the situation and taking responsibility for these comments. I apologize for that. The context of this conversation is the concerns and potential implications regarding the restructuring process.” My concern was that it could negatively impact communities of color.My work speaks for itself.I have worked hard to lead this city through its most difficult times.
De Leon similarly apologized, stating, “There have been some completely inappropriate comments regarding this meeting. I condone and contribute further to certain insensitive comments made privately about my colleagues and their families.” I reached out and on that day I fell short of the expectations we set for our leaders – and I hold myself to a higher standard.
According to The Times, following the leaked audio revelation, Bonin said in an interview that he was “disgusted.”
“I’ll say more later, but right now…I’m still digesting. I’m sick and angry and heartbroken,” he said. My son? You have to be pretty petty, insecure, and toxic to attack a child. He wasn’t even three. Other than that, I’m speechless.
A few hours later, Bonin and his family issued a statement to the city council asking for Martinez’s resignation as president and for Martinez’s resignation.
Since the Times report came out, both Martinez and de Leon have been criticized by LA’s political and legal leaders.
“I am saddened and disappointed by the racist comments made in conversations between various council members. I share the outrage of Mike Bonin and all members of the African American community. Anti-Blackness has no place in Los Angeles,” George Gascon, an attorney for the Los Angeles County District, said in a statement to CBS LA.
Rep. Jimmy Gomez also condemned Martinez and De Leon’s comments, but did not call for Martinez to resign.
Cedillo issued a statement late Sunday night regarding Martinez’s comments.
“I’d like to start by apologizing. I wasn’t part of the conversation in question, but I was at this meeting from time to time last year. Clearly I should have stepped in. I failed to hold others and myself to the highest standards. The hurtful remarks in the 1990s were completely unacceptable,” said Cedillo in a statement obtained by the CBSLA.
Demonstrators gathered in front of Martinez’s home on Sunday night to demand the resignation of the city council president.
A group of protesters eventually left the residence, but not before speaking out on racially insensitive comments made by Martinez.
LAPD officers were at the scene of the protest and were seen picking up signs after a group of protesters left.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/nury-martinez-los-angeles-city-council-president-racist-remarks-uproar/ Racist remarks by LA City Council President Nury Martinez call for her immediate dismissal