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Nury Martinez, a Democrat, apologized to fellow Democratic
Councilman Mike Bonin and his family in a statement announcing
that her resignation would be effective immediately. She
continues to represent Los Angeles' sixth district.
Martinez came under fire after the Los Angeles Times reported
comments she made during a recorded October 2021 meeting, in
which she said Bonin, who is white, treated his Black son as if
he were an "accessory" and compared him to a "changuito," which
translates as "little monkey." Bonin was not present.
Martinez also disparaged Mexicans from Oaxaca and voiced her
displeasure with Los Angeles County District Attorney George
Gascón, saying "he's with the Blacks," the Times reported.
"I take responsibility for what I said and there are no excuses
for those comments. I'm so sorry," Martinez said in the
statement. "As someone who believes deeply in the empowerment of
communities of color, I recognize my comments undercut that
goal."
Two other Democratic members of the council - Gil Cedillo and
Kevin de León - and labor leader Ron Herrera, who resigned on
Monday night, were present during the conversation, according to
the Times.
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 were made at the meeting, according to the Times.
The Los Angeles County Federation of Labor did not respond to a
request for comment on Herrera’s resignation.
Bonin issued a statement on Sunday calling for the city council
to remove Martinez as president and for her to resign from the
legislative body.
"Any parent reading her comments will know she is unfit for
public office," Bonin said.
The local chapter of activist group Black Lives Matter said
Martinez, Cedillo, de León and Herrera should resign from their
posts.
Martinez was the first Latina to become president of the city's
council in January 2020, according to her office website. She
was first elected to city council in 2013.
(Reporting by Tyler Clifford in New York. Additional reporting
by Kanjyik Ghosh. Editing by Rosalba O'Brien and Gerry Doyle)
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