Much like the emboldened Democrats who vandalized Teslas over anger for Elon Musk, many Democrats also believe they are standing up to fascism by disclosing the location of ICE agents, and even confronting them and scuffling with the agents during arrests.
The rabid anger toward ICE agents resulted in days of riots in the Los Angeles area in recent weeks, including a mob of 1,000 protesters who surrounded the Roybal Federal Building located in the city.
In an eye-opening escalation, City of Cudahy Vice Mayor Cynthia Gonzalez might have outdone her peers by calling on L.A. street gangs to protect their “turf” from ICE, which she calls the “biggest gang of all" in a viral video posted to social media.
Cudahy, a small city of 22,000, is located in the southern portion of Los Angeles County. The city is also predominantly Latino and Hispanic, at 96%, with Hispanic public officials serving in city government alongside Gonzalez.
'Where's the leadership at?'
In a one-minute video posted to social media, Gonzalez names two street gangs by name, 18th Street and Florencia 13, and reminds them gang life is supposed to be about controlling territory.
“Where’s the leadership at? You guys are all about territory,” she says. “We’re out there, like, protecting our turf, protecting our people. Where are you at?”
Los Angeles is famous for its street gangs, such as the Crips and its rival gang, the Bloods.
18th Street formed in Los Angeles in the 1960s and is known for its rivalry with the well-known MS-13.
Florencia 13, also known as F13, is a smaller gang located in South Los Angeles.
Regardless of their history or membership, all street gangs are known for drug sales and drug trafficking, committing violent crimes, and extortion.
A federal court sentenced Elvis Mauricio Maradiaga, an 18th Street member, in March. He was one of 12 18th Street members charged by the Department of Justice with racketeering, murder, attempted murder, and kidnapping.
Gonzalez 'in no way' encouraged violence
In the second half of the video, the vice mayor says she and others are trying to “organize” and push back against ICE, likely referring to their raids and arrests, but the gangs are nowhere to be found.
“So whoever is the leadership over there,” she concludes, “just [expletive] get your members in order.”
Despite clearly taunting and teasing the two gangs, an unnamed attorney for Gonzalez told the L.A. news media Gonzalez “in no way encouraged anyone to engage in violence. Any suggestion that she advocated for violence is categorically false and without merit."
Gonzalez likely lawyered up, and put out her version of the video, after the FBI announced it was investigating her comments.
Bill Melugin, a Fox News correspondent, reported the FBI visited Gonzalez's home and opened an active investigation.
Ira Mehlman, of the Federation for American Immigration Reform, tells AFN it was a bad idea for a public official to openly encourage violent street gangs to take action against federal agents.
“I'm sure there's going to be legal repercussions for her, and very well deserved,” he observes, “but that seems to be the mindset of some of these local officials."
