LOS ANGELES (October 10, 2022) – See Councilmember Krekorian’s statement below.
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The racist and hateful comments that were reported yesterday were abhorrent and indefensible in any context. If we truly are committed to building a society of mutual respect, caring and civility, no one should ever be subjected to the kind of vile and cruel personal attacks we heard in those recordings.
Certainly, no child should ever be subjected to such extraordinarily hurtful comments under any circumstances. My longtime colleague Mike Bonin and I don’t always agree, but he is also my longtime friend, and I am heartsick to think of the pain that he and his family are experiencing.
At a time when our nation and our city have suffered so painfully from hatred, racism and toxic divisiveness, every leader must be committed to uniting people around our common values and our common interests in building a better future together. ALL of the people of Los Angeles deserve to have confidence that their elected representatives will be their advocates. My colleagues who made these statements failed to meet that commitment during this meeting, and they must be held accountable for their conduct.
Now more than ever, the City Council must stand on the side of unity and empathy and respect and empowerment of all people. We must stand clearly and forcefully against racist divisions and against those who would pit one group against another. Sadly, the horrendous comments we heard are completely contrary to those standards and cannot be tolerated or swept aside. Those who made them must make amends so our city and our Council can begin the process of healing. Councilmember Martinez’s announcement of her resignation from the Council presidency is an essential first step in that process.