SEIU 721 Leadership Demands Resignation of Councilmembers Nury Martinez, Kevin de León, Gil Cedillo, and Los Angeles County Federation of Labor President Ron Herrera

Yesterday, the LA Times reported on racist remarks by Los Angeles City Councilmembers Nury Martinez, Kevin de Leon, and Gil Cedillo, and LA Labor Federation President Ron Herrera.

The following statement was released by SEIU 721 officers President David Green, Vice President Simboa Wright, Secretary Lillian Cabral, and Treasurer Adolfo Granados this morning:

“SEIU 721 condemns racism and hate speech in all its forms. The comments in the LA Times report are repulsive and vile, and nothing can justify these hateful comments. Racism and homophobia have absolutely no place in City Hall, in the broader Labor movement, or in our communities. As such, we demand the immediate resignation of Councilmembers Nury Martinez, Kevin de León, Gil Cedillo, and Los Angeles County Federation of Labor President Ron Herrera.

“For too long, those in power have used anti-Black and anti-Indigenous racism to divide us – pitting working people against each other based on what we look like, where we come from, or what we do for a living. They try to divide us from each other at work and in our communities because they know we all do better when we unite to achieve an economy and democracy that works for all of us.

“Comments like these work against the shared values of SEIU 721 and our more than 98,000 members. SEIU 721 knows that our strength comes from our ability to work together – no matter our race or color of our skin – to win for our members and the communities we serve.

“While the comments outlined in the LA Times report are yet another example of Anti-Blackness, our union remains steadfast in our commitment and journey in dismantling racism in all forms. In the same way we won better wages, safer workplaces, and civil rights in the past, we will continue to organize and fight for racial equity.”

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