L.A. Dem Nury Martinez Resigns After She’s Caught Calling Councilmember Black Son A “Monkey”

Now former-President of the Los Angeles City Council Nury Martinez has resigned following an audio leak that spread throughout social media like wildfire. Within hours of the release of the audio, Twitter was flooded with both right-wing and left-wing people calling for Nury Martinez to resign following several racist remarks.

The remarks offended multiple different people and ethnic groups. Many of the comments attacked her Councilmembers directly.

After the audio from the hot mic got leaked onto the internet and spread throughout social media, Martinez resigned just one day later.

In a statement, Martinez said, “I take responsibility for what I said and there are no excuses for those comments. I’m sorry,” she said.

Martinez was caught on mic discussing Councilmember Mike Bonin, a gay and White man, and his adopted and Black son:

“Parece changuito,” or  “He’s like a monkey,” soon afterward. She later referred to Bonin as a “little b****”, Martinez then claimed Bonin was raising his adopted Black child like a “little white kid”, implying that White children and Black children should be raised differently.

Martinez attempted to save face, saying that her obviously racist comments didn’t help to empower communities of color. “As someone who believes deeply in the empowerment of communities of color, I recognize my comments undercut that goal… Going forward, reconciliation will be my priority. I have reached out to many of my Black colleagues and other Black leaders to express my regret in order for us to heal.”

The hot mic caught yet another racist comment when Martinez was discussing  Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón, where Martinez said, “F*** that guy,” Martinez said. “He’s with the blacks.”

Of course, Martinez’s comments are abhorrent, but she also black-balled herself by calling out several of her peers in Councilmembers. Multiple Democrats in the past have managed to keep their jobs despite making racist remarks that the public knows about. However, Martinez’s comments stand out as some of the most hateful comments in recent memory.

AAN Staff