Nury Martinez Resigns as LA City Council President

Three Los Angeles City Councilmembers face backlash after being recorded in leaked audio making racist and derisive comments about colleagues, including one councilmember’s young son.

Former Council President Nury Martinez made racist remarks about Councilmember Mike Bonin’s young son. Councilmembers Gil Cedillo and Kevin de León and Los Angeles County Federation of Labor President Ron Herrera chimed in.

Sharing this so our community is aware of the anti-Black and anti-Indigenous remarks made by LA City Councilmembers Nury Martínez, Kevin de Leon, and Gil Cedillo.
In this excerpt of a longer audio leaked from a 2021 meeting, they make racist remarks about Oaxacans in Koreatown. pic.twitter.com/53akTDOXmj

— We Are IOC (@Ioc_Socal) October 10, 2022

In a statement to the Los Angeles Times, Martinez said she was “disturbed” and”sorry” about her comments, sparking protests and widespread condemnation over the weekend.

“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,” she said. “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.”

Nury Martinez announced her resignation this morning from her post as Los Angeles City Council President following the release on Sunday of recordings of racist remarks she made in a meeting last October. Both Cedillo and de León apologized for their comments but have not resigned as of yet.