Los Angeles is reeling after a fiery response from Mayor Karen Bass to Vice President JD Vance’s controversial visit to the city. In a press conference that erupted with emotion, Bass condemned Vance’s remarks as “lies and utter nonsense,” accusing him of inciting division and fear among Angelenos during a time when the city was striving for calm.

The mayor’s outrage stems from Vance’s comments that suggested local leaders were fostering violence amid ongoing protests against ICE. Bass vehemently rejected this narrative, stating, “How dare you say that city officials encourage violence?” She recounted harrowing stories of local families disrupted by fear, with children anxiously awaiting fathers who did not return home.

Bass painted a stark picture of the current climate, revealing that businesses are suffering, with owners reporting attendance at their establishments plummeting. “It’s worse than COVID,” she declared, emphasizing the trauma inflicted on families and the economic devastation rippling through the community. The mayor also criticized Vance for disrespecting California’s Senator Alex Padilla, referring to him incorrectly, and accused him of parachuting into Los Angeles to pass judgment without understanding its complexities.

The tension escalated as Bass denounced the federal presence, questioning the identities of armed individuals appearing in the city without proper identification. “Who are these people?” she asked, highlighting the fear they instilled in the community.

With the city now peaceful after lifting a curfew, Bass vowed that Los Angeles would remain united against external provocations. “You may attempt to create division, but we are standing together,” she asserted, rallying community leaders and residents to support one another in these trying times. The mayor’s passionate response underscores the urgency of the situation and the need for solidarity in the face of adversity.