Angry Protesters Interrupt LA City Council Meeting After Audio Leak

After the Oct. 9, 2022, leak of a racially charged conversation between council President Nury Martinez and three other local officials, protesters flooded the Los Angeles City Hall during the City Council's regular meeting in Los Angeles on Oct. 11, 2022. Screenshot via YouTube/LACityClerk

Protesters flooded the Oct. 11 Los Angeles City Council meeting after council President Nury Martinez stepped down over a leaked conversation—with two other councilors and a labor union president—that contained racially disparaging comments about Councilman Mike Bonin’s adopted black son and other ethnic groups.

The audio recording sparked outrage, with President Joe Biden joining a group of California politicians—including Gov. Gavin Newsom, Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), LA mayoral candidates Karen Bass and Rick Caruso, and several councilmembers—in condemning the officials involved.