Think twice before insulting America’s heroes.
On Tuesday night, city council members in the Los Angeles suburb of Pico Rivera passed a resolution condemning and asking for the resignation of Gregory Salcido, a Democratic councilman and high school teacher who was caught making derogatory remarks about members of the US military in a video that went viral last month.
Salcido, a history teacher, has been on leave from El Rancho High School in Pico Rivera since the video came to light, the Associated Press reported.
In the footage, Salcido was heard criticizing a student for wearing a Marine Corps. sweatshirt and urging his students not to join the armed forces:
“We’ve got a bunch of dumbs***s over there,” Salcido said. “Think about the people who you know who are over there — your freakin’ stupid uncle Louis or whatever, they’re dumbs***s. They’re not, like, high-level thinkers, they’re not academic people, they’re not intellectual people, they’re the freakin’ lowest of our low. Not morally, I’m not saying they make bad moral decisions, they’re not talented people.
At Tuesday night’s city council meeting, nearly 50 residents of Pico Rivera berated Salcido and demanded he step down from the lawmaking body.
“America: Love it or leave it. That’s the bottom line,” said 76-year-old Raul Rodriguez, an Army veteran.
Dennis Jackson, who grew up in the town, said “A classroom is a place of learning, not propaganda.”
Eric Gleason, a 20-year-old former student of Salcido’s, came to the teacher’s defense.
“I believe that I probably wouldn’t even be here today if it wasn’t for him,” he said.
Salcido defended his controversial comments, saying his goal was to motivate students to go to college and claiming his words “were definitely out of context.”
He claimed he would “sleep good tonight” and said he has no plans to resign.
#GregorySalcido speaking after #PicoRivera City Council votes on censuring him and asking for his resignation.Nearly 300 in attendance. 55 spoke on his anti-military comments. pic.twitter.com/MCP4CYlxH9
— Sandra Molina (@MolinaSGVN) February 14, 2018
Mayor Gustavo Camacho called Salcido’s rant “bullying, arrogant and aggressive behavior.” He introduced the resolution, which passed with the support of three other council members.
Salcido voted against the measure. A fifth councilman abstained, saying the move was pointless because the council does not legally have the authority to force Salcido to resign.
Even if the beleaguered teacher does not step down, the censure will bar him from city committees and appointments.
Last month, White House Chief of Staff John Kelly, a retired Marine Corps. General whose son was killed in Afghanistan, reacted to Salcido’s words.
“I think the guy ought to go to hell,” he said. “I hope he enjoys the liberties and the lifestyle that we have fought for.”
Many Twitter users continued to blast the history teacher.
He’s a disgrace, he obviously knows nothing about the Armed Forces of the United States. He needs to resign.
— Timmy C. (@timcaton925) February 14, 2018
This man is disgusting and has no business being an educator.
— Girl_Grimly (@ed_grimly) February 14, 2018
Quite possibly the most dishonorable and pathetic displays I’ve ever seen. I actually feel bad for this clown’s family and the City of Pico
— Runaway777 (@Runaway77777) February 14, 2018
He should not be teaching. The swearing alone is offensive. NO child should be subjected to the political beliefs of a public school teacher, abuse of influence.
— Sue❤??❤ (@IndieSueC) February 14, 2018
Disgusting Man ! Ugly
— ANNORA11 (@AnilNS425) February 14, 2018
He claims his goal was to do everything to get his students to college. Yeah, a lifetime of student loans is much better than a distinctive military career in say, the nuclear sub program. He should have foregone teaching for the military.
— Lisa (@LittleLisaUSA) February 14, 2018
And in California, he has a job for life! The things that COULD get him fired are too ugly to list here!
— Ron E (@ronaboe5) February 14, 2018
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