Protesters are taking to the streets outside of L-A city hall today in light of the leaked, racist recordings involving three city council members. With the involved council members yet to resign, they face pressure from both the public and the White House to step down. Annenberg reporter Mya Mariey Vinnett went downtown today to speak with protesters about the situation.
Protesters: Hey-hey, ho-ho this racist council’s got to go.
At 9:30 this morning community leaders held a press conference outside City Hall in response to leaked racists remarks made by three members of the Los Angeles City Council.
Najee Ali: Today, our coalition is demanding the resignation of the three Latino council members, Martinez, DeLeon and Cedillo for making racist comments. You can never make racist comments and expressly call a black child a monkey and expect to be in city government.
Shane Harris: And I want to say that my Office of the People’s Association of Justice Advocates, a national civil rights organization, has issued a letter to Attorney General Rob Bonta. I want the attorney general to investigate two things. One, obviously, we’re very concerned that gerrymandering conversations were happening here. I want the attorney general to investigate the criminality and the civil rights. That we’re possibly violated on these phone calls. As well as to investigate the possibility that this was not the only phone call that there was.
Remarks were stopped in time for the City Council Meeting slated to begin at 10am. Lines of activists and outrage citizen wrapped the sidewalk of City Hall.
Mya Mariey Vinnett: And can you tell me how long you’ve been in line?
Zerita Jones: Right now, about 40 minutes.
This woman like many others was left outside to wait. Protesters reported police telling them they couldn’t be let in because a crowd that size was a fire safety concern.
Unidentified protester: I do understand it if it’s a fire hazard. If it’s a fire hazard I do understand.
Mya Mariey Vinnett: Is that what they’re telling people... that this is a fire hazard.
Unidentified Protester: They dealing with the fire marshall. People have got in. People have got in.
Denied entrance into City Hall peaceful protesters moved from the sidewalk to the streets.
Unidentified Protester: We’ve been saying this but people have not believed this until the audio came out and these are not the only ones that are corrupt. Just because they look like us doesn’t mean they represent us. They could Black, brown, White Asian it doesn’t matter. As long as they uphold white supremacy, we’re against them.
As the morning goes on if you listen closely you can hear the sound of protesters beating on the door of City Hall.
A few minutes later a march began, temporarily blocking more of the streets surrounding City Hall. Members of the community were left disappointed. During the meeting no significant action was taken in permanently removing the council members in question from office
For Annenberg Radio I’m Mya Mariey Vinnett
Chants: Show me what community looks like. This is what community looks like.