Los Angeles City Council candidate Ysabel Jurado, who is running to unseat District 14 councilmember Kevin De León, is facing backlash for saying “F– the police” in a recorded meet-and-greet with college students.
The audio clip was exclusively released by the Westside Current on Monday, and reportedly occurred when a Cal State Los Angeles student asked Jurado about her stance on abolishing the police, as well as 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.”
Los Angeles Police Department Union Director Jamie McBride, spoke to KTLA’s Mary Beth McDade about the remarks. “People that live in City Council District 14 want to feel safe when they go to work or live in that area, and now they have someone that wants to abolish the police. That works against what the mayor is trying to do—she’s trying to add public safety.”
The union has thrown its support behind De León in his upcoming re-election bid.
De León, who was caught up in his own leaked audio scandal, called the comments “disrespectful.”
“When you say, ‘F— the police,’ it’s so immature, highly illogical and irresponsible,” De León said, adding that communities need to work with police in all neighborhoods to combat crime.
A campaign spokesperson released a statement from Jurado to the Westside Current, saying: “I quoted a lyric from a song that’s been part of a larger conversation on systemic injustice and police accountability for decades.”
“But it was just a lyric,” the statement continued. “My commitment to public safety remains as strong as ever.”
