Cudahy Vice Mayor Appears to Urge Gangs Against ICE Amid Assault Spike

Cudahy Vice Mayor Cynthia Gonzalez is facing significant backlash after a video surfaced in which she appeared to call on local street gangs, including the 18th Street and Florencia gangs, to organize and defend their neighborhoods against federal immigration raids in Los Angeles. Gonzalez criticized gang members for not protesting the raids and urged them to protect their turf, comments that the Department of Homeland Security condemned as "despicable" and linked to a sharp rise in assaults against ICE officers. The Los Angeles Police Protective League demanded Gonzalez's resignation, stating that her remarks endangered law enforcement officers and could be illegal. The city of Cudahy clarified that Gonzalez's comments reflect her personal views and not the official stance of the city. Despite calls for her to step down, Gonzalez has not responded publicly to the controversy. The situation highlights tensions in communities affected by immigration enforcement and the complexities of local leaders' responses.