Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass found herself at the center of controversy when comedian Kathy Griffin accused the Los Angeles Police Department of harboring elements of White nationalism during an Instagram Live session. The conversation, which was intended to address challenges faced by Bass, took a turn when Griffin suggested that the adversity Bass faces is partly due to her being a Black woman.
Griffin remarked, “I really think that a lot of the adversity comes your way because you’re a Black woman,” and went on to describe the Los Angeles City Council and LAPD as potentially hostile environments. Bass, however, chose not to address Griffin’s specific accusation regarding the police force.
Bass’s Response and Political Context
Instead of engaging with the accusation, Mayor Bass clarified her limited authority over federal officers during immigration raids and emphasized her restricted power over local issues such as schools and healthcare. “I’m also not in charge of the schools. I’m not in charge of healthcare,” Bass stated, highlighting the constraints of her mayoral role.
Griffin further questioned how Bass deals with what she described as a “non-diverse group of law enforcement,” to which Bass did not provide a direct response. This silence has sparked reactions, including from rival mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt, who described Bass as “scared and desperate” on social media.
Mayor Bass has a history of calling for police reform, notably in 2020, while also supporting the LAPD and advocating for increased recruitment. Her public safety goals have included efforts to identify and discipline officers linked to what she described as “right-wing domestic extremist organizations.”
Fox News Digital reached out to both the LAPD and the mayor’s office for comments but did not receive immediate responses. The ongoing dialogue around police reform and racial dynamics within law enforcement continues to be a significant issue in Los Angeles politics.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
