LA City Council President resigns after leaked audio reveals she and others making racist remarks

A leaked recording of a conversation between several City Council members and a senior labor official that included what appear to be racist remarks and slights on some of their colleagues has led to the resignation of Los Angeles City Council President Nury Martinez.

Martinez resigned on Monday, offering the following statement to her constituents: “I take responsibility for what I said and there are no excuses for those comments. I’m so sorry.”

“I sincerely apologize to the people I hurt with my words: to my colleagues, their families …I am truly ashamed. I know this is the result of my own actions,” Martinez said.

She continued, “As someone who believes deeply in the empowerment of communities of color, I recognize 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 my regret in order for us to heal.”

Martinez went on to say, “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 the actions I take from this day forward. I hope that you will give me the opportunity to make amends. Therefore, effective immediately I am resigning as President of the Los Angeles City Council.”

In the recording, Martinez and Councilman Kevin de León can be heard discussing the black son of a white councilman, saying the councilman handles the child like an accessory.

De León replies, “Parece changuito,” meaning the child is like a monkey. As the conversation shifted to the current LA County District Attorney, George Gascón, who Martinez quickly dismissed, saying “F— that guy, he’s with the blacks.”