‘Like a monkey’ – Los Angeles Council member resigns when her racist description of young Black child leaked

President of  Los Angeles City Council, Nury Martinez, a Latino  has resigned as president of the Los Angeles City Council a day after a leaked audio recording revealed her and another Council person,  Kevin de León making racist comments. She made the racist comment about a Black son of her fellow council person.

Martinez and the other Latino leaders present during the taped conversation were seemingly unaware they were being recorded as Martinez said a white councilmember handled his young Black son as though he were an “accessory” and described Councilman Mike Bonin’s son as “Parece changuito,” or “like a monkey.”

On her resignation, Martinez released the below  statement :

“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, 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’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. 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.

“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.”

The eye opening, wicked and racist comments of the leaked audio “offered a rare window into the behind-the-scenes machinations of the redistricting process and the bare-knuckled fighting between various groups trying to secure political power” in the diverse City of Los Angeles.