African American leaders in Los Angeles swiftly responded to the March 30 announcement of seven guilty counts in the federal corruption trial of former Councilmember Mark Ridley-Thomas.
The jury convicted Ridley-Thomas of bribery and conspiracy charges, along with mail and wire fraud, stemming from his time on the L.A. County Board of Supervisors.
The charges are for what prosecutors called a quid pro quo arrangement between Ridley-Thomas and a former head of the USC School of Social Work, with the politician accused of steering county contracts toward the school in exchange for benefits to Ridley-Thomas’ son, former Assemblyman Sebastian Ridley-Thomas.
Despite the conviction, few cheers were expressed due to the veteran politician’s decades-long history of working to improve the quality of life for members of city’s Black and Brown communities. In fact, most public comments noted his commitment to serving the disenfranchised during his tenure as an elected official on the local, county and state levels of government.
Below are some of the statements shared with the L.A. Sentinel.
Mayor Karen Bass – “I believe that this is a sad day for Los Angeles and I feel that sadness personally. For decades, Mark Ridley-Thomas has been a champion for our city, a civil rights activist, a thought leader and a policymaker who made real impact on this city. I worked with Mark for more than 40 years to build a more just and equitable Los Angeles – so again, all I have to say is that this is a sad day for Los Angeles.”
Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson – 8th District – “The reasonable among us were stunned at the indictment and now at the conviction. It is difficult news to consider or accept.
“Leading up to this moment colleagues, pundits, and gadflies have alternately asked for his resignation, or for him to step down. The community expressed a mix of “no jail time,” cynicism, and disappointment. Amid these calls, Ridley-Thomas remained unmoved by the slings and arrows. His then refusal to resign fit into the narrative of his 30 years of public service as the most effective politician on issues that mattered.
“He committed to the judicial process and responded to the charges brought against him as his years of public service were scrutinized in the press, and his decisions, parental and otherwise, were weighed.
“With the jury’s decision in the ether, there is a chance that we will miss why he has been such an effective leader, how he championed our communities when no one else would. We should bear this in mind as we navigate the coming days.”
Rev. Dr. Ken Walden, senior pastor, Holman United Methodist Church – “It is a long and tedious journey for Black People to receive justice from the court systems in the United States of America. Some council members have been recently recorded on the phone making racist, discriminatory, criminal, and illegal (that did not need interpretation) remarks are walking around free and have never been charged with anything.
“We continue to pray for Councilmember Mark Ridley-Thomas as he navigates this cumbersome (that is largely based on interpretation) process.”
Council President Paul Krekorian – “I am deeply saddened that a career of extraordinary public service and achievement has been brought to a close in this way. Mr. Ridley-Thomas leaves behind an irrefutable legacy of leadership, activism and effective policymaking that have shaped our city, county and state.
Former Councilmember Bernard C. Parks was quoted in the L.A. Times as saying, “Mark Ridley-Thomas was not indicted because he’s Black or because he was too successful,” said Parks, who served 12 years on the council. “He was indicted and convicted because he committed several serious felony crimes.”
Civil Rights Attorney Areva Martin – “I am shocked and disappointed by the jury verdict in the federal trial of Mark Ridley-Thomas. As an officer of the court, I accept the jury’s decision.
“As a civil rights attorney and legal analyst, however, I remain incredulous about the government’s failure to interview any of Mark’s former staff members or call any county employees; the inconsistency in its star witness’s testimony; the excessive charges in the indictment; the ever-shifting theory of what happened that led to the prosecution; and the prosecutor’s motivation for aggressively pursuing these charges. I trust that Mark and his legal team will use all legal avenues available to fight the conviction.
“The community that loves Mark and appreciates his decades of remarkable service will stand resolute in our support and determination to preserve his legacy as one of the most committed and effective African American politicians to have served Los Angeles and California.”
SCLC President/CEO Pastor William D. Smart Jr. – “It is a travesty of injustice what happened to Mark Ridley-Thomas? No one would’ve thought that the governments weak case along with a jury that openly stated that they didn’t understand the directions would convict a 40 year plus honorable civil servant.
“Mark Ridley- Thomas has had a stellar career and has been all about the service of the people. For him to go down in this way is clearly systematic injustice.”
Senator Steven Bradford (D-Gardena) – “I am compelled to share my appreciation for the civic contributions of Mark Ridley-Thomas. Mark Ridley-Thomas has devoted his professional life to serving the people of Los Angeles. He has invested his time and energy to empower and uplift his community and constituents for decades. He advocated for and oversaw the construction of the new Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Hospital that is saving lives and improving the health of countless underserved Angelenos.
As the former Executive Director of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference of Greater Los Angeles, he worked to advance civil rights during turbulent times in our city. His relentless commitment to helping improve the lives of others through public service will always be worthy of our admiration and appreciation.”
