In the quirky political world of Southeast Los Angeles – the scandal seems to blossom every year on the regularity of Jacarandas – never a mess Pendejo As Cynthia Gonzalez, deputy mayor of Cudashi, made a sensation this week.
How would you also describe elected officials telling gang leaders that in videos posted to social media, “F-Get your members organized” and on the streets against Donald Trump’s immigration attack?
Gonzalez's roar triggered a national storm at its worst. Conservative media portrays her as a politician – Latino, of course – Gives a green light to the gang la migra. On social media, the Department of Homeland Security shared her video, which was called “despicable” and insisted that “this junk” pushed “attack” for its agents.
Gonzalez later asked her Facebook friend to help her find a lawyer because “the FBI just arrived at my house.” For my colleague Ruben Vives, the agency did not confirm or deny Gonzalez’s claim.
The first council member deserves all the condemnation she piles on her – and above all, the video that triggered this tragic plot is so cringe-free.
“I want to know all the work of Holos in Florenceia on 18th Street, Florence, where is the leadership?” Gonzalez said at the beginning of the video, which was quickly removed. “You guys mark everything that claims to be ‘hood’, and now your hood is invaded by the biggest gang and you are not peeking!”
Gonzalez continues to claim that 18th Street and Florencia 13 (one of the largest and most notorious gangs in Southern California) should not “try to claim there are no obstacles, no obstacles, nothing, if you are not showing up now, like, like them, help.
The second order from Kudashi Council seems to have recorded clips at a party, from the perspective of her black backless top, bright red lipstick, fresh hairstyle and fantasy earrings, the club music exploded in the backstage. She looked and sounded like an older cousin, who grew up in Barrio and now lives in Downey, trying to sound hard in front of her confused cholo relatives.
The Trump administration is looking for any reason to send more National Guard and Marines to quell its rebellious character. If a gang is invited to help – not to mention two gangs as notorious as 18th Street and Florence don't sound like Trump claims he's trying to retreat, I'm not sure what it is.
Perhaps worst of all, Gonzalez once again brought political ignorance in Southeast Los Angeles County. Its small, mega-sized Latino city has long been synonymous with political corruption and never seemed to have a lucky breakthrough from its leaders, even though a generation of Gonzalez vowed not to repeat past sins.
Cynthia Gonzalez, Deputy Mayor of Qudashy
(City of Kudashi)
“In her post, Dr. Gonzalez challenged the Latino community: joining thousands of Angelenos in response to ongoing enforcement actions,” Damian J. Martinez, her attorney, said in a written statement. “It is important that Dr. Gonzalez never encourages anyone to engage in violence.
Kudashi officials said Gonzalez's thoughts “reflect her personal views and do not represent the views or official positions of Kudashi City.”
Gonzalez has spent 22 years growing up in Huntington Park and graduating from Bell High, working as a teacher, principal and administrator in the Los Angeles Unified School District. In 2023, in Cudahy (a suburban Latino with about 22,000 residents) became the first city in Southern California to approve a solution to a ceasefire in Gaza, she told the Times de los section that Latinos “understand what it means to be left behind.”
A few weeks ago, Gonzalez appeared with Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and was elected leader from Los Angeles and Ventura counties to condemn the just-intensified immigration raid.
“I want to talk to Americans, especially those who allow our community to be scapegoats for this administration, and it makes you feel that your dreams are not happening because of us,” Gonzalez said.
Last week, she announced she would run for the Los Angeles Community College District Board of Trustees for a third time, urging Facebook followers to give up donations to her campaign to support organizations that help immigrate. “Our priorities must reflect the urgency of the times,” she wrote.
In those cases, Gonzalez is just another Wokosa politician. But the federal government now sees her as someone who wants to be a big brother.
Trying to invite gangs to advocate for immigration is both ridiculous and offensive, and describes 18th Street and Florence as “Latino neighborhoods,” just like describing the Mansons as “hippies who love entertainment.” Gang members extorted immigrant entrepreneurs and the horrifying immigrant community dates back to the era of “New York gangs.” Their methods of committing crimes (which expand turf, profit and power through fear and bloodshed) will forever nail Latinos to the hearts of too many Americans. Transnational gangs like Tren de Aragua and MS-13 are superficial reasons for Trump's expulsion of the tsunami – now a politician believes it's wise to ask Cholos to draw near?
However, I sympathize with Gonzalez's true meaning of imperfection and clumsiness, even agree-even. The Department of Homeland Security said she was harassing gangs “exercising violence against our brave ice and snow enforcement,” which is not persisting in the context of history.
Latino activists have been inspiring gang members to join for decades El Movimiento – Not like a commando, but as a willful young man and veterinary Who can leave La Vida Loca If they become enlightened, they are right behind. Published in 1969 at the height of the Chicano movement, El Plan Plan Plan Espiritual de Aztlán envisioned a world that “no more juvenile crimes, but revolutionary behaviors.” Its sister document El Plan de Santa Barbara warns activists that they “must be able to connect with all parts of Barrio, from middle-class assimilators to Vatos Locos. ”
From Homeboy Industries to universities that allow prison inmates to earn degrees, people still believe in the power of forgiveness and work to reintegrate gang members into society to become productive people. They are relatives, friends and members of the community, and they don't get the idea, not the inevitable monster.
Gonzalez's video comes from that kind vein. A closer look shows that she is not Lionistic 18th Street or Florence 13.
“It is everyone else who is involved in gang life who is protesting and speaking out,” the deputy mayor said. “We are there, like fighting for our turf, protecting our turf, protecting our people, and where you exist? Bien Calladitos, Bien Calladitos li'l cholitos. ”
Very quiet, very few cholitoswhich translates as “baby gangster”, but is even more disdainful in Spanish.
Her delivery was terrible, but the message was expressed to the gang members, and it was also really to others who had not yet appeared in the immigration: If not now, when? If not, who?
It would be a miracle if Gonzalez's political career resumed. But the future chronicle of Los Angeles should treat her. It's easy to call Cholos to become Cholos. Challenge them to do their own good at critical moments in history.
