We at AAPI Equity Alliance are horrified and angered by the anti-Black, anti-LGBTQ and anti-indigenous statements made by and in the presence of Los Angeles City Councilmembers Nury Martinez, GiI Cedillo, and Kevin de Leon and LA Federation of Labor director Ron Herrera. The individual comments were racist, homophobic and offensive, but the larger goals were even more troubling and problematic: to limit the political power of African Americans, of renters and of those who seek to hold our city officials accountable.
As a coalition of over forty community-based organizations that together serve and represent the AAPI community in Los Angeles City and County, we call on the three elected officials to resign immediately. Additionally, we strongly recommend actions be taken to prevent future gerrymandering and backdoor dealings, including the creation of an independent redistricting commission and a proposal to add several more council seats to ensure multiracial, grassroots representation.
