Vice mayor who called ICE ‘the biggest gang there is' and for ‘cholos' to defend their territory should resign, cop union says
In a clip posted to Instagram and then swiftly deleted, Cynthia Gonzalez, Vice Mayor of Cudahy, said: 'I want to know where all the cholos are at in Los Angeles – 18th Street, Florencia Where's the leadership at?
'Because you guys are all about territory and, 'This is 18th Street, this is Florencia.' You guys tag everything up, claiming hood and now that your hood's being invaded by the biggest gang there is, there ain't a peep out of you.' Gonzalez appeared to be referring to ICE but does not name them in the video.
She continued: 'It's everyone else who's not about the gang life that's out there protesting and speaking up. We're out there fighting our turf, protecting our turf, protecting our people, and, like, where you at?
'Dude they're running amok all up on your streets, on your streets and in your city and, peep, when the big gang guns come in nothing but, like, quiet and we're out here, the regular ones that have never been jumped in out here calling things out and trying to organize.
'So don't be trying to claim no block, no nothing if you're not showing up right now trying to, like, help out and organize. I don't want to hear a peep out of you once they're gone, trying to claim that this is my block. This was not your block. You weren't even here helping out. So whoever is the leadership over there just f***ing get your members in order.'
The L.A. Police Protective League (LAPPL) has reacted angrily and demanded Gonzalez's resignation.
'The 18th Street and Florencia street gangs are notoriously dangerous Los Angeles-based criminal enterprises,' it said in a statement.
'Both gangs have a known history of murdering police officers. In 1998, an 18th Street gang member murdered LAPD Officer Filberto Cuesta. Recently, several Florencia gang members were convicted of the 2022 murder of LAPD Officer Fernando Arroyos.
'What Ms Gonzalez urged and taunted these specific gangs to do in her social media post puts police officers and other law enforcement professionals at greater risk. Her actions are deplorable and potentially illegal. She should resign and she should be prosecuted if what she called for broke the law.'
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) also responded to the video, reposting it on Tuesday evening with a statement calling Gonzalez 'despicable' and alleging that she was calling on the gangs 'to commit violence against our brave ICE law enforcement.'
'This kind of garbage has led to a more than 500 percent increase in assaults against our ICE law enforcement officers. Secretary [Kristi] Noem has been clear: If you assault a federal officer, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,' the DHS said.
The FBI has stated that it cannot currently confirm or deny whether an investigation into Gonzalez is underway. Still, spokesperson Laura Eimiller noted: 'Generally speaking, of course, the FBI condemns any calls for violence or targeting of law enforcement with violence.'
The Independent has contacted Gonzalez for comment, but she has so far refused all media requests pertaining to the video.
The City of Cudahy did issue a brief statement of its own in which it said: 'The comments made by the Vice Mayor reflect her personal views and do not represent the views or official position of the City of Cudahy. The City will not be providing further comment.'
The Los Angeles Times has since quoted an attorney representing Gonzalez as saying that 'any suggestion that she advocated for violence is categorically false and without merit,' putting them at odds with the LAPPL and DHS in their interpretation of her words.
The attorney continued: 'In her post, Dr Gonzalez issued a challenge to the Latino community: join the thousands of Angelenos already peacefully organizing in response to ongoing enforcement actions.
'Importantly, Dr Gonzalez in no way encouraged anyone to engage in violence.'
Gonzalez's controversial video comes after weeks of controversy caused by federal raids on migrants in downtown Los Angeles, which saw local people hit the streets to protest and President Donald Trump call in the National Guard and deploy active-duty Marines to support local law enforcement against the wishes of California Gov. Gavin Newsom and L.A. Mayor Karen Bass.
Two weeks ago, Gonzalez joined other L.A. County mayors at a press conference hosted by Bass at City Hall to address ICE's actions.
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