Cudahy Vice Mayor Cynthia Gonzalez Faces Backlash Over Social Media Post on Immigration Raids
Cynthia Gonzalez, the Vice Mayor of Cudahy, California, is facing intense scrutiny after a social media video surfaced in which she allegedly urged Southern California street gangs to take action against immigration raids. The message, originally posted to Instagram, has since been deleted but continues to spark controversy.
In the video, Gonzalez reportedly called out specific gangs, including 18th Street and Florencia, demanding their presence in response to ongoing ICE activity. “I wanna know where all the cholos are at in Los Angeles… Now that your hood is being invaded by the biggest gang there is, there ain’t a peep out of you,” Gonzalez allegedly said in the video.
Legal experts warn that her comments may have crossed a legal line. ABC7 legal analyst Josh Ritter noted that invoking known criminal gangs in this context could potentially be seen as incitement. “It’s one thing to ask community members to stand up. It’s another to name criminal gangs and call them to act,” said Ritter.
The city of Cudahy quickly distanced itself from the statements. “The comments made by the Vice Mayor reflect her personal views and do not represent the views or official position of the City of Cudahy,” the city said in a public statement.
Local residents have expressed concern. “Talking about bringing gangs into this is horrible,” said Danielle Canales, a nearby resident. “People are already scared due to the raids, and now this?”
ABC7 has reached out to Gonzalez for comment but has yet to receive a response. Notably, Gonzalez was recently appointed Director of UCLA’s Principal Leadership Institute. She also joined other L.A. County mayors at City Hall earlier this month to address immigration enforcement actions.
The FBI has not confirmed whether an investigation is underway. The incident remains under public and legal review.
