For immediate release:
"A simple mea culpa is not enough, nor is resigning as the president of the city council.
The racist and homophobic attacks cannot be wiped away by resigning a post, Ms. Martinez and her colleagues, Mr. De Leon, and Mr. Cedillo must resign their seats on the Los Angeles City Council. Their actions are unbecoming of elected officials and they have lost the public's trust.
What they did was not in the best interest of the residents of Los Angeles. This was self-interest politics with bigoted rhetoric used in backdoor dealings. This should not be tolerated.
Actions have consequences so they must resign. Our city must speak as one community and say that racism and bigotry of any degree or form will not be tolerated. This is how we heal."