聽Nury Martinez speaks prior to a City Council vote to increase minimum wage at City Hall in Los Angeles, California September 24, 2014. REUTERS FILE PHOTO
A Los Angeles city councilwoman resigned as president of the council on Monday after the release of an audio recording in which she makes racist and other disparaging comments, including ones about the Black son of a colleague.
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鈥� 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 鈥渁ccessory鈥� and compared him to a 鈥渃hanguito,鈥� which translates as 鈥渓ittle monkey.鈥� Bonin was not present.
Martinez also disparaged Mexicans from Oaxaca and voiced her displeasure with Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gasc贸n, saying 鈥渉e鈥檚 with the Blacks,鈥� the Times reported.
鈥淚 take responsibility for what I said and there are no excuses for those comments. I鈥檓 so sorry,鈥� Martinez said in the statement. 鈥淎s someone who believes deeply in the empowerment of communities of color, I recognize my comments undercut that goal.鈥�
Two other Democratic members of the council 鈥� Gil Cedillo and Kevin de Le贸n 鈥� and labor leader Ron Herrera were present during the conversation, according to the Times.
It reported that De Le贸n accused Bonin of not supporting Latinos and likened him to being the council鈥檚 鈥渇ourth Black member.鈥�
The three issued statements acknowledging that inappropriate remarks were made at the meeting, according to the Times.
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.
鈥淎ny parent reading her comments will know she is unfit for public office,鈥� Bonin said.
The local chapter of activist group Black Lives Matter said Martinez, Cedillo, de Le贸n and Herrera should resign from their posts.
Martinez was the first Latina to become president of the city鈥檚 council in January 2020, according to her office website. She was first elected to city council in 2013.
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