ALT (Los Angeles, CA) — United Teachers Los Angeles condemns the appalling conversations between Los Angeles City Council President and former School Boardmember Nury Martinez, Councilmember Kevin de León, Councilmember Gil Cedillo, and Los Angeles County Federation of Labor President Ron Herrera. At a time when solidarity is critical to our futures, rather than uplifting marginalized communities and people, these elected officials saw fit to create a space of racial divisiveness and engage in hateful, racist, and colorist comments toward Black, Latinx, Indigenous, Asian, Armenian, and LGBTQ+ communities. When anti-Black rhetoric continues leading to the death of Black folx to this day, it is abhorrent that these elected officials would speak and condone racist slurs and words of violence against a Black child — especially from the mouth of a former LAUSD School Boardmember in a BIPOC community.

ALT As educators, we are here to make sure our students and our communities do not face this type of harm. We expect better, and Los Angeles deserves better, than political leaders who perpetuate cycles of violence and freely spew viciousness behind closed doors when they think they cannot be heard and held accountable. It is deplorable that this is what is thought and said about the most marginalized in our communities by leaders in the halls of our city and in the house of labor. It is shameful what is not said in response; silence is complicity. And it is reprehensible to know this is taking place when and where decisions are being made that will have ongoing effects and repercussions for generations of citizens.

ALT We can and MUST rebuild from this. We call for unity, education, and building toward justice in our city — not hot air and hollow apologies. We call for solidarity and leaders who have the best interests for the people of Los Angeles at heart. We cannot let this continue or consume the soul of this city, when this type of harm toward working class families and marginalized communities is already so pervasive around us. This is why we must hold elected officials and community leaders accountable to their actions and uplift those that will stand for economic and racial justice, not the status quo. UTLA calls for the immediate resignations of Los Angeles City Council President Nury Martinez, Councilmember Kevin de León, Councilmember Gil Cedillo, and Los Angeles County Federation of Labor President Ron Herrera.

ALT City Councilmember-Elect Katie Cashman says: “I know we can accomplish the vision I campaigned on — that thousands of people resonated with — because I know my community. I have met so many of our neighbors throughout the last ten months of campaigning. I am honored that they shared their hopes and dreams about our ward and city with me. I am hopeful for all that the future holds in Minneapolis. I really feel honored that I will have the opportunity to serve my community.” Katie Cashman is a renter, sustainability expert, policy advocate, and the next Councilmember of Ward 7 in the City of Minneapolis.

ALT The contract covering nearly 30,000 school workers who perform essential student services at LAUSD expired in 2020. Negotiations were halted as many SEIU Local 99 members worked during the pandemic. Negotiations resumed in April, 2022. “After months of bargaining, LAUSD has stalled or outright rejected our proposals for clean, safe and supportive schools. Workers are calling for living wage increases, equitable health care benefits and more full-time work to address the dire staffing shortages,” said Max Arias, Executive Director of SEIU Local 99.