In a country where we have decided to keep the salary of an official charged with federal crimes such as bribery, fraud and conspiracy; or when a Michigan judge drops criminal charges against a former governor related to the 2014 Flint water crisis — a situation that killed dozens and poisoned thousands of mostly African American residents — they demand that a council member resign from -for an unfortunate comment described as racist. for which he has repeatedly apologized.
It is important to note that the official we are talking about is Hispanic and runs the 14th District, one of the most representative districts of this group, but they accuse him of “racism” when his political record in Los Angeles and Sacramento his actions say otherwise. Yes, he has voted for countless bills that support all groups but focus on minorities, including African Americans.
No wonder Councilman Kevin de Leon has supported Vice President Kamala Harris, Councilman Curran D. Price, Senator Isadore Hall, and Assemblyman Reggie Jones-Sawyer in their political careers, to name but a few, representing African Americans. community.
But now a group of activists, the vast majority of whom do not live in the 14th arrondissement, want De Leon to step down, including some of his colleagues. And I say some because not everyone agrees with the attitude towards the comments, but they don’t say anything for fear of being accused of supporting a racist. These are the same people who voted to restore the salary of an adviser accused of committing up to 20 federal crimes.
Of course, the councilor in question was not found guilty, but if the authorities charge him with 20 charges, then I doubt very much that it is because it once occurred to them to charge him; on the other hand, we know that in this country a good and very expensive law firm works wonders, and the accused with clear evidence will never go to jail, and the innocent will go to jail.
So I don’t understand: an adviser who made a racist remark – unfounded and, of course, reprehensible – but did not kill anyone, did not rob or rob anyone, and has already apologized, is asked to resign; while another council member who was indicted on federal charges of betraying the public trust, taking bribes and diverting millions of dollars of money had his salary restored and his lawyers paid. I don’t understand.
And I understand this less when I read that the judge drops criminal charges against the former (white) governor of Michigan, despite the fact that his actions or inaction caused the death and illness of thousands of people, the vast majority of them of color.
But this Latin American leader, who by his actions has shown that he is not a racist, is being asked to resign and it even seems that a whole campaign of experts and some organizations has been unleashed to force him to resign, while other advisers are accused of fraud. , I hear nothing.
What happens to the law in this city, state, or great country where, in many cases, we forget about justice and give more weight to unsuccessful arguments than to serious violations that directly or indirectly really affected residents, and in some cases their constituents? even paid with their lives.
We even go so far as to be intolerant of not accepting an apology for a mistake of this kind, a mistake made by anyone, regardless of their background, education, social or ethnic group, who said such things, but in private.
I don’t want to apologize for Kevin de Leon’s comments, but as a Hispanic, immigrant, and with 30 years of experience in Los Angeles, I find a resignation petition or demonstration that only proves talking to a bad joke unforgivable, even without considering De Leon’s work as civil servant.
I am far from defending anyone or anything, I am looking for us to have more consistency in our laws, on our level of fairness, and at the same time we can be consistent in situations that are not really deserve the full weight of guilt as they are being subjected. However, they represent the interests of someone who uses this situation for political purposes, and not because they are really interested in justice; if so, then the same campaign to resign Kevin de Leon will be carried out against an adviser accused of fraud.
But there is a catch here, and you have to see who benefits from this whole situation in order to find out who is pulling the strings, even from illegal wiretapping of a private telephone conversation.
Source: La Opinion
David Ortiz is an opinionated and well-versed author, known for his thought-provoking and persuasive writing on various matters. He currently works as a writer at 24 news breaker, where he shares his insight and perspective on today’s most pressing issues. David’s unique voice and writing style make his articles a must-read for those seeking a different point of view.