This article has been updated to reflect new information: On Monday, Los Angeles City Council President Nury Martinez announced during a press conference that she is resigning from her position as president effective immediately.
“I am resigning as president of the Los Angeles City Council,” Martinez said.
“I take responsibility for what I said, and there are no excuses for those comments. I am so sorry,” Martinez said in a follow-up apology statement on Monday.
“I sincerely apologize to the people I hurt with my words: to my colleagues, their families, especially to Mike, Sean and your son. As a mother, I know better and I am sorry. I am truly ashamed. I know this is the result of my own actions. I am sorry to your entire family for putting you through this.”
“As someone who believes deeply in the empowerment of communities of color, I recognized my comments undercut that goal. Going forward, reconciliation will be my priority. I have already reached out to many of my Black colleagues and other Black leaders to express regret in order for us to heal,” she continued. “I ask for forgiveness from my colleagues and from the residents of this city that I love so much. In the end, it is not my apologies that matter most; it will be that actions I take from this day forward. I hope that you will give me the opportunity to make amends.”
Los Angeles City Council President Nury Martinez, a Democrat, is facing a wave of intense criticism after leaked audio revealed her making openly racist remarks about a council member's son.
The Los Angeles Times first reported Martinez's racist rhetoric on Sunday, zeroing in on a conversation that happened back in October 2021 between Martinez, Councilmembers Gil Cedillo and Kevin de León and L.A. County Federation of Labor President Ron Herrera while discussing the redrawing of districts.
Martinez criticized another colleague, Councilmember Mike Bonin, who is White, over the parenting of his Black son, who she said he treated like an “accessory.”
During the conversation, Martinez reportedly referred to Bonin's son as “Parece changuito,” which translates from Spanish to English as “that little monkey.”
The Times also reported that Martinez appeared to discuss the three-year-old child's behavior during a Martin Luther King day parade in 2017. She allegedly said on the call, “[t]hey're raising him like a little white kid. I was like, this kid needs a beatdown. Let me take him around the corner and then I'll bring him back.”
According to CBS News, Martinez responded to the report on Sunday with a statement:
“In a moment of intense frustration and anger, I let the situation get the best of me and I hold myself accountable for these comments. For that I am sorry. The context of this conversation was concern over the redistricting process and concern about the potential negative impact it might have on communities of color. My work speaks for itself. I've worked hard to lead this city through its most difficult time.”
De León similarly apologized, saying, “There were comments made in the context of this meeting that are wholly inappropriate, and I regret appearing to condone and even contribute to certain insensitive comments made about a colleague and his family in private. I've reached out to that colleague personally. On that day, I fell short of the expectations we set for our leaders — and I will hold myself to a higher standard.”
Bonin responded to the report that he was “disgusted” by the racist remarks made about his son.
“There's more I will say later, but right now … I'm still digesting it. I'm disgusted and angry and heartsick,” he said. “It's fair game to attack me but my son? You have to be pretty petty and insecure and venomous to attack a child. He wasn't even 3 years old. Other than that, I'm speechless.”
In his statement, Bonin called on Martinez, de Leon, and Herrera to immediately resign from their posts on the city council a sentiment that was quickly echoed by other city officials.
“I am saddened and disappointed by the racist comments made in the conversation 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,” Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón said in a statement to CBS.
This story is developing. Stay with American Liberty News for the latest updates.
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Absolutely abhorrent behavior. They must resign immediately or be fired. Their judgment and character is deeply flawed. Period.
& Nothing gets done in LA City
Wait a minute. I was told that only whites could be racist.
Unhunh….sure she is. Just a CYA move.
I’m trying to figure out why she thought there is a difference in how a child is raised based upon skin color. Shouldn’t his parents raise him as an American kid, as opposed to a “child of color”?? And how does she think white parents would be able to raise a child as a black – or yellow or red or purple or day-glow green – kid? Her comment wasn’t just racist, it was illogical. Just as illogical as the comments made to my husband and myself by the school administration while we were raising our step-daughter who was of mixed parentage. Raise your child as an American with a firm foundation of honesty, responsibility, respect for others and for the country. That is really all one can – or should – do. After that, it is up to the child, no matter what their race or ethnicity.
Stand your ground, don’t let the rest of the raciest democrats get you down. Appears the truth hurts them.
she resigns as president of city council but totally needs to resign from city council and leave the seat open.
Hmmmm… How times have changed! Children are children. When I was a terrible little kid I was called a monkey or a buzzard several times and nobody took offense, including ME. People must stop parading about with huge chips on their shoulders. They need to get a life and stop being such little pansy cry-babies about their minor differences.