Cudahy vice mayor breaks silence amid backlash over controversial 'cholos' video

LOS ANGELES - Cudahy Vice Mayor Cynthia Gonzalez has broken her silence and is refuting claims she was trying to incite violence against federal law enforcement after she received backlash over a now-deleted TikTok video in which she appears to call on street gangs to defend their streets from ICE agents. 

What they're saying:

Gonzalez' atorney, Damian Martinez, released a statement on Thursday in which she said Gonzalez "called upon her local community to exercise their First Amendment rights to free speech and assembly to express their views on recent ICE enforcement actions" in the social media post.

"Dr. Gonzalez in no way encouraged anyone to engage in violence. Any suggestion that she advocated for violence is categorically false and without merit," Martinez said.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: ICE reacts to Cudahy vice mayor's 'disgusting' comments calling on 'cholos' to defend streets

Gonzalez said, through her lawyer, she will continue to present her community and encourage people to exercise their rights to free speech and assembly.

"Civic engagement is fundamental to our country’s constitutional and political processes--and a constitutionally protected means of finding an alternative to the policy of mass deportation," her attorney said.

"Her message was entirely peaceful and aimed at encouraging civic engagement through lawful and constructive means. Dr. Gonzalez is deeply committed to fostering open dialogue on important and often controversial issues," she added.

Controversial comments

The backstory:

"I wanna know where all the cholos are at in Los Angeles. 18th Street, Florencia. Where's the leadership at?... Now that your hood is being invaded by the biggest gang there is, there ain't a peep out of you... Don't be trying to claim no block, no nothing if you're not showing up right now trying to help out and organize," Gonzalez said in the video.

"Don't be trying to claim no block, no nothing," Gonzalez said. "If you're not showing up right now, trying to help out and organize, I don't want to hear a peep out of you once they're gone."

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Vice mayor in California calls for 'Cholos' to defend 'streets' amid ICE raids

"Whoever is the leadership over there, just get your f*** members in order," she allegedly said towards the end of the video, which was shared publicly last week before it was deleted. 

Several Facebook comments on her page were also deleted, as Gonzalez confirmed she was under investigation by federal the FBI.

Gonzalez allegedly wrote, "I need a lawyer.  The FBI just came to my house."  Adding, "It was about a TikTok that I made that went viral. Literally a TikTok."

In another post Gonzalez allegedly wrote that she, "believes this is a First Amendment rights issue."

Local response

What they're saying:

The city of Cudahy issued a statement Tuesday distancing itself from the video.

"The city of Cudahy is aware of recent comments made by Vice Mayor Cynthia Gonzalez on social media. The comments made by the vice mayor reflect her personal views and do not represent the views or official position of the city of Cudahy," according to the statement.
In a statement, the Los Angeles Police Protective League, which is the union that represents Los Angeles police officers, called for the immediate resignation and prosecution of Gonzalez.

"What Ms. Gonzalez urged and taunted these specific gangs to do in her social media post puts police officers and other law enforcement professionals at greater risk. Her actions are deplorable and potentially illegal.  She should resign and she should be prosecuted if what she called for broke the law."'

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Another LA County city cancels 4th of July celebrations over 'safety concerns'

According to the LAPPL, both gangs "have a known history of murdering police officers." The organization referred to the 1998 killing of LAPD Officer Filberto Cuesta by an 18th Street gang member and more recently, the 2022 murder of LAPD Officer Fernando Arroyos by several Florencia gang members.

"The 18th Street and Florencia street gangs are notoriously dangerous Los Angeles-based criminal enterprises. They rule their `turfs' through intimidation, violence, and murder, and finance their operations through the sale of narcotics and illegal firearms, prostitution, and protection rackets," the statement read.

Federal response

What they're saying:

FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said in a statement, "Per FBI policy, I am unable to confirm or deny an investigation. Generally speaking, of course, the FBI condemns any calls for gang violence or targeting of law enforcement with violence."

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security condemned the comments.

SUGGESTED: LAPD denies claims it's helping ICE conduct immigration raids in Los Angeles

"The comments made by the Vice Mayor of Cudahy, CA, Cynthia Gonzalez, are despicable. She calls for criminal gangs -- including the vicious 18th street gang -- to commit violence against our brave ICE law enforcement," the department said in a Tuesday evening post on X.

"This kind of garbage has led to a more than 500 percent increase in assaults against our ICE law enforcement officers. (Homeland Security) Secretary (Kristi) Noem has been clear: If you assault a federal officer, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."

In a statement, a senior ICE official called Gonzalez' comments "disgusting."

"Vice Mayor Cynthia Gonzalez calling for the vicious 18th Street Gang and others to fight federal law enforcement on the streets of Los Angeles is disgusting. This type of dangerous rhetoric from elected officials in California is fueling violence against those enforcing our nation’s laws who are already facing a 500% increase in officer assaults," the statement read.

"A roving gang of murderers, rapists and drug peddlers are not going to protect American communities. ICE and federal partners are working to protect public safety every day, contrary to the lies spread by disingenuous elected officials."

ICE raids continue across SoCal

Big picture view:

Federal agents continue to ramp up an immigration crackdown after receiving directives from President Donald Trump to set up their efforts in Democratic-run cities.

Those raids were preceded by Trump deploying thousands of additional National Guard troops to the area in response to massive anti-ICE protests across the region.

Gov. Gavin Newsom sued Trump over the move, and a lower court originally sided with Newsom, saying Trump's move was likely unconstitutional. 

The recent anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles and Orange counties erupted following widespread anger over the agency's enforcement tactics that began on Friday, June 6. 

In addition to downtown LA, Santa Ana also became a hot spot for demonstrators where some protesters have clashed with law enforcement.

SUGGESTED: OC leaders to federal government amid ICE raids: 'Back off'

One of the latest raids occurred in Pasadena Wednesday afternoon after agents detained six people at a bus stop. 

Community leaders reported incidents of ICE appearing at elementary school graduations, disrupting the legitimate immigration processes at various courthouses, and aggressively raiding workplaces and locations like Home Depot. These actions, perceived as arbitrary and invasive, sparked outrage among residents and galvanized the public into widespread demonstrations across Los Angeles County.

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