PICO RIVERA, Calif. (AP) - The Latest on a Los Angeles-area teacher and city councilman who bashed U.S. military service members (all times local):
9:20 p.m.
A teacher and city councilman captured on video calling members of the U.S. military “the lowest of our low” is defending his comments, saying he is a pacifist who wants his students to choose college instead of the military.
After listening to nearly 50 speakers and his colleagues condemning him, Councilman Gregory Salcido said Tuesday night he was sorry to anyone whose comments may have hurt, but did not apologize for the remarks themselves.
He says he became a pacifist after seeing pictures of relatives who died in war on his grandmother’s wall as a child in Los Angeles.
After his remarks, the council voted to condemn Salcido’s remarks, and urged his resignation.
Salcido gave no indication that he would resign.
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7:45 p.m.
City Council members in the Los Angeles suburb of Pico Rivera have condemned remarks by a colleague who was captured on video calling members of the U.S. military “the lowest of the low.”
At Tuesday’s meeting, the mayor and three of four council members expressed their disagreement with remarks that Councilman Gregory Salcido, a high school history teacher, made to a student in his class. Mayor Gustavo Camacho called it “bullying, arrogant and aggressive behavior.” The council can’t force Salcido from his post but Camacho introduced a motion to censure Salcido - which would bar him from city committees and appointments - and asking him to resign from the council.
A host of public speakers - many who served in the armed forces or have children in the military - made patriotic and pro-military comments. Some called him shameful and cowardly.
Salcido said he would comment after the other speakers.
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A Los Angeles-area teacher who bashed U.S. military service members in classroom remarks is expected to attend a city council meeting where leaders could seek his resignation.
Councilmembers in Pico Rivera will vote Tuesday evening on whether to ask Gregory Salcido to resign.
Salcido has been off work from El Rancho High since video surfaced of him scolding a 17-year-old student who was wearing a Marine Corps sweatshirt.
The student recorded Salcido urging him not to join the military and referring to service members as the “lowest of our low.”
The video has drawn millions of views, along with outraged comments.
City Manager Rene Bobadilla tells the Daily News that Salcido will attend Tuesday’s meeting, in what would be his first public appearance since he made the classroom comments Jan. 26.
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