LA City Council President Resigns After Leaked Audio Of Racist Comments

The Los Angeles City Council president announced her resignation on Monday after recently leaked audio revealed her hurling racist comments about a colleague and his Black child.

Council President Nury Martinez released a statement saying her resignation is effective immediately — a day after The Los Angeles Times reported on the audio clips.

“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,” she said. “I am truly ashamed. I know this is the result of my own actions. I’m sorry to your entire family for putting you through this.”

“As someone who believes deeply in the empowerment of communities of color, I recognize my comments undercut that goal,” she continued. “Going forward, reconciliation will be my priority. I have already reached out to many of my Black colleagues and other Black leaders to express my regret in order for us to heal.”

The LA Times said the recorded conversation occurred in October 2021. HuffPost has not been able to independently verify the content of the recording.

The audio reportedly involved Martinez, Councilmembers Gil Cedillo and Kevin de León, and Los Angeles County Federation of Labor President Ron Herrera. The councilmembers were expressing irritation about the maps proposed by the city’s redistricting commission. According to the Times, they wanted to “ensure that heavily Latino districts did not lose economic assets.”

It was during that conversation the officials brought up fellow Councilmember Mike Bonin. In audio clips posted by the LA Times, Martinez can be heard saying that Bonin, a white man, is a “little bitch” and “thinks he’s fucking Black.”

In the recording, Martinez says that Bonin brought his son, who is Black, on a float during the city’s Martin Luther King Jr. parade — saying he “handled” his son like an “accessory.” De León responded by comparing Bonin’s handling of his son to Martinez holding a luxury handbag.

The council president then complained about Bonin’s son’s behavior on the float, saying the councilmember is raising his child “like a little white kid.”

Martinez then compared Bonin’s son to a monkey in Spanish and added, “I was like, this kid needs a beat down, like let me take him around the corner and then I’ll bring him back.”

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.