Nury Martinez, Los Angeles City Councilmember heard making racist comments in leaked audio, resigns
Share and Follow


(KTLA) – Los Angeles City Councilmember Nury Martinez has resigned from her position following the leak of a recorded conversation in which she can be heard making offensive and derogatory comments about a colleague, his child and members of the indigenous community.

The embattled councilmember resigned from her position as council president earlier this week and later announced that she planned to take a “leave of absence.”

Her resignation comes following intense public pressure from her constituents, other Los Angeles residents and several high-ranking members of the national political sphere, including President Joe Biden.

In a leaked audio conversation that was summarized by the Los Angeles Times on Sunday, Martinez could be heard making derisive and racist comments about the child of Mike Bonin, the council member representing the 11th District.

Bonin, who is white, has an adopted son who is Black. In the leaked audio, Martinez can be heard describing Bonin’s son as a monkey in Spanish. She also refers to Bonin as a “little bitch,” and makes disparaging comments about members of the indigenous Oaxacan community, calling them “little short dark people.”

During a raucous and expletive-filled council meeting on Tuesday, Los Angeles residents called for Martinez to immediately resign, as well as demanding the resignations of councilmembers Kevin de León and Gil Cedillo who were also heard on the leaked audio. Ron Herrera, one of L.A. County’s most influential labor leaders, resigned from his post as President of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor on Monday.

During the closed-door meeting involving the four prominent political leaders, which the Times reported happened in October 2021, a discussion was held regarding the broader issues facing the council, including the recent once-a-decade redistricting process and the likely ouster of fellow councilmember Mark Ridley-Thomas, who was indicted on federal bribery charges.

The audio includes the council members debating who would be a suitable City Council replacement that would be politically beneficial to the causes of the four speakers, should Mark Ridley-Thomas be suspended by the council. Ridley-Thomas was ultimately suspended and replaced by Heather Hutt.

In a letter released Wednesday afternoon, Martinez reflected on her career in the council, describing her time as “extremely difficult,” adding that she hoped her work for the city inspired young Latina girls. Martinez was the first Latina president of the City Council.

While addressing her family in her resignation statement, she apologized for falling “short” of the expectations of her family, vowing to “strive to be a better woman to make you proud.”

Cedillo and de León have not yet announced any plans to resign at this time. Cedillo lost his re-election bid earlier this year and will be replaced on the council in the coming months by Eunisses Hernandez. 

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Dad's heroic dash to save daughter after she went overboard on cruise

Father’s Brave Rescue: Saving Daughter Who Went Overboard on Cruise Ship

Passengers were shocked as they witnessed a young girl fall from a…
Trump to visit 'Alligator Alcatraz' detention center this week: Source

Trump is planning to visit the detention center known as ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ later this week, as per a source.

() President Donald Trump is expected to visit Florida’s controversial detention center…
Hurricane trackers warn 39m of 'tropical trouble' forming off US coast

Storm Trackers Alert Public About 39 Million People at Risk of New Tropical Storm Developing near US Coast

Forecasters are tracking a large weather disturbance forming near Florida that could…
Longtime State Department spokesman, diplomat Richard Boucher, dies at 73

“Renowned State Department Spokesman and Diplomat Richard Boucher passes away at age 73”

WASHINGTON (AP) Richard Boucher, who served for more than a decade as…
National pride is declining in America. And it's splitting by party lines, new Gallup polling shows

Patriotism in the United States is decreasing and becoming divided by political affiliations, according to recent Gallup polls

WASHINGTON (AP) — Only 36% of Democrats say they’re “extremely” or “very”…
Senate Republicans are in a sprint on Trump's big bill after a weekend of setbacks

Senate Republicans Rush to Pass Trump’s Major Legislation Following a Weekend of Challenges

After a weekend of setbacks, the Senate will try to sprint ahead…
'Our lives stopped': Family marks 2 years since daughter disappeared

Family commemorates the 2-year anniversary of daughter’s disappearance: “Our lives came to a halt”

ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) Becky Mitchell is living the nightmare of her…
Delta locks some customer accounts over security concern: What to know

Delta restricts access to certain customer accounts due to security reasons: Important information

HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) — If you have a flight with Delta Air…