California official criticized for appearing to call on gangs to intervene in immigration raids

LOS ANGELES — The vice mayor of a small Southern California city is under fire after appearing to call on street gangs to organize in the face of immigration sweeps by federal agents in and around Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES — The vice mayor of a small Southern California city is under fire after appearing to call on street gangs to organize in the face of immigration sweeps by federal agents in and around Los Angeles.

In a video post on social media that has since been deleted, Cynthia Gonzalez, vice mayor of Cudahy, referenced two well-known street gangs and questioned why gang members were not protesting or speaking up about the immigration raids. She said ordinary citizens are the ones on the streets protesting the presence of federal agents.

"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," Gonzalez said.

She referenced "18th Street" and "Florence," two infamous street gangs, and appeared to be speaking directly to their members. She said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are "running amok all up in your streets."

"We're out there fighting our turf, protecting our turf, protecting our people and, like, where you at?" she said.