Widows and families of fallen LAPD officers came together Sunday to list demands in response to L.A. City Council candidate Ysabel Jurado’s anti-police remark from earlier this month.
Jurado, who is running to unseat District 14 councilmember Kevin De León, has been facing backlash for saying “F– the police” in a recorded meet-and-greet with college students. The Westside Current leaked the audio clip on Oct. 21.
A Cal State Los Angeles student asked Jurado about her stance on abolishing the police and De León’s use of discretionary spending for overtime. Jurado responded by referencing an N.W.A. song, saying, “What’s the rap verse? ‘F– the police,’ that’s how I see them.”
The Los Angeles Police Protective League organized a press meeting on Sunday morning where attendees gathered to demand that Jurado apologize for her remark and withdraw from the race.
“To think that Ysabel Jurado wants to be a Los Angeles city councilmember with such hate in her heart is sad,” said Maria Johnson, president of the LAPD Family Support Group.
Johnson said that Jurado’s remark “brought back memories of the loss of my husband and so many other police officers such as Fernando Arroyos, who was shot and killed with his fiance by his side as they were looking at homes to buy to start a family or of Officer Juan Diaz who was killed by a gang member in front of his family after eating out in Lincoln Heights.”
Jurado released a statement in response to the backlash, saying “I understand the pain that families feel after the loss of a loved one, and I have deep respect for anyone who has lost someone in the line of duty. We can honor the memories of fallen officers while also pushing for accountability and equity in policing, and real investment in our communities.”
“What I’m hearing from voters is a desire for new leaders who will take a fresh approach to public safety because what we’ve been doing clearly isn’t working,” the statement continued. “That’s what we’re focused on, and we won’t be deterred by attempts to take us off course.”
