Black Lives Matter Los Angeles (BLMLA) has pitched their tents in front of disgraced Los Angeles Councilmember Kevin De León’s Eagle Rock home. This is in response to his refusal to step down and resign after audio leaked of a conversation he was a part of where he anti-Black statements and seemingly conspired to dilute Black political power and disenfranchise Black voters in the 10th Council District.
De León, L.A. Council President Nury Martinez, Councilmember Gil Cedillo, and Los Angeles Labor Federation leader Ron Herrera were participants in a conversation in October 2021 about city redistricting in which multiple racist remarks were made. In that same conversation, De León conspired to gerrymander Councilmember Nithya Raman’s district.
Herrera and Martinez have resigned, while Cedillo and De León show no signs of resigning anytime soon.
On Saturday, Oct. 15, 8 p.m., BLMLA, joined by other community groups, showed up in front of De León’s Eagle Rock home, intent on staying until he resigned. They sang and danced to “Ease on Down the Road” from “The Wiz” — a reference to De León’s recorded comments that Black political power is like “the Wizard of Oz effect.” De León complained that it seems like there are more Blacks shouting than there actually are in numbers – a jab at the declining numbers of Blacks in Los Angeles.
Sunday morning, the groups continued the protest, under the watchful eye of nearby LAPD officers, by playing “The Color Purple’s” “Maybe God is Trying to Tell You Something” along with other popular Black gospel songs.
Throughout the day on Sunday, Oct. 15, De León’s neighbors showed support for the protestors–even providing food.
A large group of Latino De León supporters showed up in the afternoon but, after a conversation with BLMLA leaders, switched sides and joined in the calls for De León Leon to resign.
Several community groups, leaders, and Democratic clubs have volunteered to sponsor meals for the group, BLMLA.
“De León participated in a meeting that was not only hurtful but harmful to the Black community,” explained BLMLA co-founder Dr. Melina Abdullah who spent the night in front of his house on Saturday night.
“He colluded to undermine Black political power and Black community and he has to be held accountable. He’s run from us at city hall so we’ll protest against him wherever we can find him. We’re going to camp out in front of his house until he leaves the City Council.”
To follow the BLMLA encampment, follow @blmlosangeles on Instagram and @BLMLA on Twitter.
