Protesters gathered inside Los Angeles City Hall Tuesday when Councilmember Kevin de León attended a city council meeting just days after being involved in a scuffle with an activist caught on camera at a Christmas event.
The meeting, scheduled for 10 a.m., was the first since the altercation Friday night at a family holiday event in Lincoln Heights. Protesters inside the council chambers shouted demands for de León's resignation -- over a recorded conversation with colleagues that included racist slurs -- as the 15-member body began its regular meeting and opened discussion on agenda items.
More protesters gathered outside City Hall. Los Angeles police were positioned both inside City Hall and on nearby streets. Several warnings from the council were issued to protesters who were shouting as people spoke during the public comment period.
At least one person was asked to leave for causing a disruption.
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It was de León who ended up leaving the meeting early Tuesday afternoon as loud protests continued inside the council chambers. The council called a recess, but calls for de Leon's resignation continued and, after a discussion with colleagues, he eventually departed.
Several council members walked out when de León took his seat.
De León said what he did Friday was self defense and that he regrets the fact that children and parents had to see what happened.
When a screaming activist got into his face and made first contact he had to take action, he said
On Monday, he released a new video showing himself getting punched in the face.
“My hope was that he'd be pacified, de-escalate, decompress. and then, I let him go,” de León said.
Councilman de León says the now-viral video shot Friday, showing a violent scuffle between himself and a community activist named Jason Reedy, only tells part of the story. Video shows the council member shoving someone in what appears to be a hallway, nearly falling to the ground.
The crowd followed de León to an exit after the Christmas toy giveaway event at a public venue. Activists shouted as their cellphones rolled, but de León found himself cornered, he said.
Reedy was nose-to-nose with him and physical contact is made. De León said that's when he reacted in self defense.
“He got into my face and thrust his pelvis into my body to try to provoke me,” de León said. “I didn't know if there was gonna be a second or third head butt.”
De León can be seen grabbing Reedy and throwing him onto a table. The scuffle continued for a few seconds more as the two men are surrounded by onlookers.
Tonight, de León’s office released a new video which shows what happened after the initial contact.
The embattled councilman says you can see Reedy throwing a closed-fist punch, which struck de León under his left eye.
It's difficult to see because the action happens so quickly but a man in a wool cap like Reedy's does appear to strike de León in the video.
Reedy issued a statement through his attorney over the weekend, saying de León and his supporters initiated the assault: "Kevin de León is a disgrace. Video footage clearly shows him and his supporters initiating this assault while Mr. Reedy stands prone. Not only has Kevin de León lost all political legitimacy, his claims that he was the one attacked here simply underscores how he's lost touch with reality."
Both men have filed assault charges against each other. Los Angeles police said they are investigating the altercation.
De León confirmed for us that his female chief of staff and an office volunteer were also struck during the scuffle.
He's expecting to be interviewed by a detective Wednesday after he makes a brief appearance at the LA City council meeting.
De León attended Friday's council meeting, but his appearance was brief as protesters immediately shouted for him to leave, and he was no longer present after a recess of around 45 minutes.
De León had not attended a council meeting since Oct. 11. He has defied widespread calls to resign over his participation in a racist 2021 conversation with Council members Gil Cedillo and Nury Martinez and a top county labor official that was leaked in October. He is also facing a recall effort that is in the process of gathering signatures.
Protesters have regularly shown up at meetings demanding that de León and Cedillo resign before the city conducts its business.
Council President Paul Krekorian said previously that if de León did attempt to come back, other members of the council would leave the meeting. Three members -- Mike Bonin, Marqueece Harris-Dawson and Nithya Raman -- walked out on Friday when de León entered the chamber. But three others indicated on Monday at a briefing that they would stay even if de León tries to attend the meeting.
De León has been formally censured by the council, the decision is largely symbolic and currently bears no penalties under the City Charter. The council cannot remove a member. There is a recall effort against de León that is in the process of collecting signatures.
