The Los Angeles Police Protective League (LAPPL) is calling for the resignation and possible prosecution of Cudahy Vice Mayor Cynthia Gonzalez after a video surfaced in which she appeared to encourage violent street gangs to confront U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The LAPPL, which represents over 8,900 LAPD officers, issued a statement condemning Gonzalez’s comments, saying she placed law enforcement personnel in harm’s way by inciting known criminal organizations.
“It’s dangerous,” said LAPPL Director Richard Mendoza in an interview with Fox News Digital. “She should definitely resign from her position, and the district attorney or U.S. Attorney should bring charges against her if she crossed any legal lines.”
Gonzalez allegedly posted a now-deleted video to social media last week, directly addressing members of 18th Street and Florencia 13 — two Los Angeles-based gangs with documented histories of murder, violence, and intimidation, including the killing of law enforcement officers.
“These gang members are known to be violent,” Mendoza said. “They’ve killed law enforcement officers in the past, and it’s completely irresponsible and reprehensible for [Gonzalez] to even engage in that kind of talk or behavior.”
The LAPPL noted that the gangs in question exert control over territory through brutal tactics and have long posed a threat to public safety.
In the video, Gonzalez appears to criticize local gang leaders for not responding to ICE presence in the area. “Not for nothing, but I want to know where all the cholos are at in Los Angeles,” Gonzalez said. “18th Street, Florencia — Where’s the leadership at? Because you guys are all about territory … You guys tag everything up — claiming hood. And now that your hood’s being invaded by the biggest gang there is, there ain’t a peep out of you.”
At one point, she adds, “Get your f***ing members in order.”
Mendoza said he was initially in disbelief when he viewed the video. “I was like, ‘This is ridiculous,’” he said. “With the things that are going on right now — it’s dangerous.”
Recent anti-ICE riots in Los Angeles escalated into violence, with protestors throwing rocks, Molotov cocktails, and “high-grade pyrotechnics” at officers, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert G. Luna. Mendoza noted, “In the last riots within the city of Los Angeles, we had 52 officers that were injured — 12 that are still recovering at home from their injuries.”
Following the video’s circulation, Gonzalez was reportedly visited by FBI agents at her home and is now under federal investigation, sources told Fox News.
Although the FBI’s Los Angeles office would not confirm or deny an investigation, they issued a statement denouncing any suggestion of violence against law enforcement.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security also weighed in Tuesday night via a post on X, calling Gonzalez’s remarks “despicable.”
“She calls for criminal gangs — including the vicious 18th Street gang — to commit violence against our brave ICE law enforcement,” DHS wrote. “This kind of garbage has led to a more than 500 percent increase in assaults against our ICE law enforcement officers. Secretary Noem has been clear: If you assault a federal officer, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
