Angry protesters halted the start of the Los Angeles City Council meeting Tuesday, demanding the resignation of former president Nury Martinez and her two colleagues over a racist covert tape recording.
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Hundreds of people crammed into the council chambers with many more fueling the demonstration from outside. Chants of “Out, out, out!” could be heard in Spanish, Fox11 reported.
“I’m outraged that we’ve been operating with these people making decisions,” South LA resident James Harris said. “I thought we moved past this and this keeps coming and keeps coming and we’ve got to figure out how to cut the head off. They’ve got to go.”
LOS ANGELES BLACK LEADERS DEMAND INVESTIGATION AND EXITS AFTER RACIST MARTINEZ LEAK
The #LACity Council has not been able to start meeting because of chants. Protestors are demanding Nury Martinez, Kevin De Leon and Gil Cedillo not be allowed to serve “Not one more day.” FOXLA #FOXLA pic.twitter.com/yd7W3V6B8S
— Cristy Fajardo (@fajardonews) October 11, 2022
The meeting was briefly postponed as acting President Mitch O’Farrell tried to calm the crowd. Martinez stepped down from her role as president Monday and announced a leave of absence Tuesday. Councilman Kevin de Leon, who was also on the viral tape recording, was seen leaving the chambers.
News broke over the weekend with Martinez, de Leon, and councilman Gil Cedillo discussing carving up white and black districts to cement their power. The trio made comments about white councilman Mike Bonin’s black son, comparing him to a monkey, a purse, and a Civil War statue. The group also declared that the district attorney was “with the blacks” and discussed who could be counted on to support Hispanics over the black community.
The furor was swift as black leaders called for their resignations and a criminal inquiry into their discussions of gerrymandering.
Bonin was cheered as he made a speech to the crowd.
“I really don’t want to be here. I want to be with my family. I am still trying to wrap my head around everything that was said and everything that is happening,” he said. “My husband and I are both raw, heartbroken, angry, and sick for our family and for Los Angeles. As an Angeleno, I am reeling from the revelations of what these people said. Trusted servants who expressed hate.”
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The meeting finally got underway an hour late, starting with public comments of numerous people who blasted the three beleaguered council members.
One reverend from the First African Methodist Episcopal Church stated: “I get tired of politicians talking about Black Lives Matter this and that but meanwhile we have people on the City Council who are working to disenfranchise black votes. I have a problem with that. We are asking for full resignations, not half-assed resignations, and a full investigation.”
