Raman tells viewers to 'stop fascist liars' in video urging removal of LAPD chief

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Set us as preferred Los Angeles City Councilmember and mayoral candidate Nithya Raman has renewed her call for the removal of Police Chief Jim McDonnell over his handling of last year’s federal immigration raids, during a video interview posted online where she urged viewers to “stop fascist liars.”Raman, running against Mayor Karen Bass in the Nov.3 election, criticized both McDonnell and the mayor over the LAPD’s use of tear gas against people protesting federal immigration arrests.The 90-second video, uploaded to Instagram by content creator Ed Choi, was shot Sunday at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College, where Raman held a rally spelling out her plan for her first 100 days as mayor.

Facing the camera, the video begins with Raman and Choi declaring in unison: “Only you can stop fascist liars!” as an image of Bass appears onscreen.By Tuesday morning, Choi had removed the video from his Instagram page.Bass assailed Raman over the video, accusing the councilmember of calling the city’s police officers fascist liars.Raman voted against police hiring earlier this year and called at one point for defunding the police, Bass said in a statement.“But labeling them ‘fascists’ — when officers put on the uniform every day to keep us safe — is crossing the line,” Bass said.

“It’s dangerous and extreme rhetoric, and it has no place in this city — let alone from someone trying to become mayor.”McDonnell declined comment through a spokesperson.Raman spokesperson Liz Garcia said her boss used the phrase “only you can stop fascist liars” to describe federal immigration agents and “the Trump administration’s violent kidnappings” in L.A.

Choi then edited the video interview, Garcia said.“Nithya never used that phrase to describe Mayor Bass, Chief McDonnell, or LAPD officers, which is why we remov...