Los Angeles council president steps down after audio leak of racist feedback By Reuters

(Reuters) -A Los Angeles metropolis councilwoman resigned as president of the council on Monday after the discharge of an audio recording through which she makes racist and different disparaging feedback, together with remarks concerning the Black son of a colleague.

Nury Martinez, a Democrat, apologized to fellow Democratic Councilman Mike Bonin and his household in an announcement saying that her resignation could be efficient instantly. She continues to symbolize Los Angeles’ sixth district.

Martinez got here beneath hearth after the Los Angeles Occasions reported feedback she made throughout a recorded October 2021 assembly, through which she mentioned Bonin, who’s white, handled his Black son as if he had been an “accent” and in contrast him to a “changuito,” which interprets as “little monkey.” Bonin was not current.

Martinez additionally disparaged Mexicans from Oaxaca and voiced her displeasure with Los Angeles County District Legal professional George Gascón, saying “he is with the Blacks,” the Occasions reported.

“I take accountability for what I mentioned and there aren’t any excuses for these feedback. I am so sorry,” Martinez mentioned within the assertion. “As somebody who believes deeply within the empowerment of communities of coloration, I acknowledge my feedback undercut that aim.”

Two different Democratic members of the council – Gil Cedillo and Kevin de León – and labor chief Ron Herrera, who resigned on Monday night time, had been current in the course of the dialog, in keeping with the Occasions.

It reported that De León accused Bonin of not supporting Latinos and likened him to being the council’s “fourth Black member.”

The three issued statements acknowledging that inappropriate remarks had been made on the assembly, in keeping with the Occasions.

The Los Angeles County Federation of Labor didn’t reply to a request for touch upon Herrera’s resignation.

Bonin issued an announcement on Sunday calling for the town council to take away Martinez as president and for her to resign from the legislative physique.

“Any father or mother studying her feedback will know she is unfit for public workplace,” Bonin mentioned.

The native chapter of activist group Black Lives Matter mentioned Martinez, Cedillo, de León and Herrera ought to resign from their posts.

Martinez was the primary Latina to grow to be president of the town’s council in January 2020, in keeping with her workplace web site. She was first elected to metropolis council in 2013.