Activists were back in L.A. city council chambers today, demanding that meetings cease until disgraced council members Kevin De Leon and Gil Cedillo resign.
Police have used numerous tactics to disperse the activists, but the latest was a touch more theatrical, a roped-off entrance to the public hall.
That’s what happened Tuesday.
Leonardo Vilchis: “When we came to the to enter the chambers, they have a rope. And two policemen were there. And they said that we couldn’t get in, that the room was at capacity. We asked them what was capacity and they didn’t tell us the number. But for people who were coming from inside, they were telling us that there was still a lot of room.”
That was Leonardo Vilchis, director of the Union de Vecinos in Los Angeles and a community advocate.
Leonardo Vilchis: “So we kept asking to get in. We started chanting so they would let us all in. And eventually we were surrounded. The police came from all around us and started escorting us and pushing us out.”
Its been almost two months since protesters have been insisting that Los Angeles city council meetings halt.
Matyos Kidane: “So this is a continuation of protests that came about after a recording was uncovered of Kevin de Leon, Gil Cedillo, Ron Herrera and Nury Martinez conspiring to divvy up assets in the city and really using anti-black, anti-indigenous, homophobic language while conspiring against, well, namely, the black community.”
Matyos Kidane is with Stop LAPD Spying Coalition. He is one of the activists who’s been protesting for the past two months after leaked audio exposed council president Martinez along with de Leon and Cedillo using racist and derogatory language while discussing redistricting issues. Kidane believes that their behavior is representative of larger issues.
Matyos Kidane: “We’re also highlighting how that’s pervasive throughout all of council’s decisions, throughout the legislation that they passed in the last year. And how this has been normalized is business as usual.”
But today protestors were determined to beat the crowds and showed up early.
Matyos Kidane: “So, you know, we decided that we would have to be the first ones here. So we got here extra early. We were the first people at council chambers and we waited at the door for the doors to open. And lo and behold, no one else was here.”
But the four bench buffer between the public and the council remains as thick as the disconnect between ongoing proceedings and the persistent call for accountability.
Audrey Georg, a member of White People for Black Lives, insists that despite that, its necessary to persist.
Audrey Georg: “Well, yeah, like we could decide it’s not worthwhile to show up when we don’t really have a voice. But when you don’t show up and speak, you’re just normalizing that the community isn’t going to take a stand.”
And with that in mind, each activist plays their role arriving to the meeting, calling out the hypocrisy they see taking place until finally being escorted out of the hall. And then they come back to the next meeting, making sure the council members do not get the chance to forget.