After a vile post to social media, Cudahy, CA, Vice Mayor Cynthia Gonzalez was hit with a massive backlash for allegedly urging gang members from 18th Street and Florencia 13 to fight against ICE immigration raids. She slammed the criminal organizations for inaction, saying their “hood” was being “invaded” by the “biggest gang” (ICE), and called for them to “organize.”
For context, the now-deleted video has prompted an FBI investigation, and legal analyst Josh Ritter suggested it may have been criminal incitement. The City of Cudahy distanced itself from her wild remarks, stating Gonzalez’s views are not those of the city. Piling on, Cudahy resident Danielle Canales called the rant “horrible.”
In any case, Vice Mayor Gonzalez, said, “I wanna know where all the cholos are at in Los Angeles. 18th Street, Florencia. Where’s the leadership at?… Now that your hood is being invaded by the biggest gang there is, there ain’t a peep out of you!… Don’t be trying to claim no block, no nothing if you’re not showing up right now trying to help out and organize.”
Slamming her absurd diatribe, Josh Ritter, an ABC7 Legal Analyst, reacted with harsh condemnation. He said, “When you’re dealing with a political leader calling upon criminal street gangs to take action, that takes on a far more sinister meaning and, perhaps, criminal meaning behind it.”
Continuing his rebuke, Ritter added, “It is one thing to say local people of the neighborhood stand up for themselves. It’s another thing to actually call out the names of different criminal street gangs and ask them to protect their neighborhood.”
Clearly embarrassed by Gonzalez’s inappropriate screed, the City of Cudahy issued a statement, saying, “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.”
Reacting to the post, Danielle Canales, a resident of Cudahy, was offended. She said, “Her talking about gang violence and bringing them to do, you know, stuff like that, I think it’s horrible. We’re already going through ICE deporting people and people, you know, are feeling insensitive about it. Saying that is just kind of sad.”
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In response to the mayor’s vile comments, the Department of Homeland Security took to X on June 24, 2025. The DHS stated, “The comments made by the Vice Mayor of Cudahy, CA, Cynthia Gonzalez, are despicable. She calls for criminal gangs – including the vicious 18th street gang—to commit violence against our brave ICE law enforcement.”
Continuing the condemnation, it wrote, “This kind of garbage has led to a more than 500 percent increase in assaults against our ICE law enforcement officers. Secretary Noem has been clear: If you assault a federal officer, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
According to a prominent conservative social media account, the mayor may be facing stiff consequences for her actions. The post noted, “JUST IN: The FBI is investigating the Vice Mayor of Cudahy, California, Cynthia Gonzalez, after she posted a video on social media calling on the 18th Street and Florencia 13 gang members to protect their “turf” against ICE, according to Fox News.”