Did local councilwoman urge gangs to organize over L.A. ICE raids? Here’s what her lawyer is saying
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Cynthia Gonzalez, vice mayor of the southeast Los Angeles County suburb of Cudahy, is coming under fire for a video she posted on social media in which she appeared to call on street gangs to organize in the face of immigration sweeps.
But an attorney for Gonzalez says her message was meant only to encourage peaceful demonstrations against such operations — not violence.
In the video, which has since been taken down, Gonzalez said, “I want to know where all the cholos are at in Los Angeles ... 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.”
“It’s everyone else who’s not about the gang life that’s out there protesting and speaking up,” she said. “We’re out there fighting our turf, protecting our turf, protecting our people and, like, where you at?”
A week of immigration sweeps across Southern California has left some communities terrified, with fewer people on the streets and signs of an economic slowdown.
The video seemed to suggest she was calling on gang members to “help out and organize” and urging street gang leaders to “get your f—ng members in order.” Gonzalez also made reference to “Florencia 13” and “18th Street,” two violent street gangs in Los Angeles.
But in a statement Wednesday, Gonzalez’s attorney said that “any suggestion that she advocated for violence is categorically false and without merit.”
“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,” the statement read in part. “Importantly, Dr. Gonzalez in no way encouraged anyone to engage in violence.”
The statement, which did not make any reference to her comments about street gangs, came amid reports of a federal investigation over the video, as well as public backlash from law enforcement groups and federal authorities.
According to Fox News, which first reported on the video, Gonzalez was “allegedly being investigated” over whether she had called on street gangs to use violence against federal immigration agents.
Laura Eimiller, spokeswoman for the FBI, would neither confirm nor deny that the vice mayor was under investigation, per agency policy.
“Generally speaking, of course, the FBI condemns any calls for violence or targeting of law enforcement with violence,” Eimiller said.
The Los Angeles Police Protective League, the union representing thousands of sworn officers, called for the vice mayor’s resignation and possible prosecution.
“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 union said both gangs have been involved in the murders of two 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.
Immigration enforcement raids in the city of Hawthorne have sparked outrage, fear and anxiety in a town that is half Latino.
In a post on X, the Department of Homeland Security described the vice mayor’s comment as despicable and accused her of calling on street gangs to use violence against federal agents.
“Secretary Noem has been clear: If you assault a federal officer, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Gonzalez did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
But in a statement, the city of Cudahy said it was aware of the comments made by Gonzalez on social media.
“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 statement read. “The City will not be providing further comment.”
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