LOS ANGELES (AP) — A Los Angeles Metropolis Council member embroiled in a scandal over racist remarks and an activist fought at a Friday night time vacation occasion.
The activist and Kevin de León received into an altercation at a toy giveaway and vacation tree lighting at Lincoln Park, the Los Angeles Occasions reported.
Earlier on Friday, de León attended his first Metropolis Council assembly in practically two months following a scandal that erupted after a recording surfaced in October of former council President Nury Martinez, outgoing Councilman Gil Cedillo, de León and a labor union chief collaborating in a closed-door assembly wherein racist language was used to mock colleagues whereas the contributors schemed to guard Latino political energy in council districts.
Martinez resigned. Cedillo misplaced a June election and his final day in workplace is Monday. De León has apologized and stated he has no plans to resign.
De León stated in a press release to the newspaper that he was assaulted Friday night time, whereas activists stated the council member was the aggressor.
The Occasions reported two native activist organizations, RootsAction and J-TOWN Motion and Solidarity, posted a video on Twitter exhibiting a portion of the incident between De León and a person recognized as Jason Reedy, a Folks’s Metropolis Council organizer.
De León’s workplace stated Reedy and different activists had been at fault. De León spokesperson Pete Brown stated the council member was head-butted by Reedy, a member of his employees was elbowed within the face and a volunteer was punched within the arm, the Occasions reported.
De León’s assertion to the Occasions stated they had been “violently and bodily assaulted by self-proclaimed activists at a group vacation occasion to the dismay of a large number of households and youngsters who had been there to rejoice a Christmas tree lighting and to obtain toys and meals.”
“The escalating rhetoric is hitting a fever pitch, transcending from verbal threats into precise acts of violence and should finish earlier than extra critical hurt or lack of life happens,” the assertion stated. “Violence isn't free speech and has no place in politics or democracy.”
Shakeer Rahman, an legal professional representing Reedy, referred to as de León “a shame” in a press release to the Occasions Friday night time.
“Video footage clearly exhibits him and his supporters initiating this assault whereas Mr. Reedy stands inclined,” Rahman stated. “Not solely has Kevin de León misplaced all political legitimacy, his claims that he was the one attacked right here merely underscores how he’s misplaced contact with actuality.”
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