Richmond Set to Talk Censure of Mayor, Restorative Process

After punting a potential censure of Mayor Eduardo Martinez at its last meeting, the Richmond City Council will take up the item on Tuesday.

The censure is being brought forward by vice mayor Cesar Zepeda and councilmember Jamelia Brown. They are asking their follow councilmembers to adopt a resolution to censure mayor Martinez for antisemitic conduct and for actions inconsistent with the duties and

standards of the office.

They say the content shared by the Mayor echoed widely recognized antisemitic tropes, including collective blame and conspiracy narratives, and failed to distinguish between the actions of a government and Jewish people as a group.

In the past month, Richmond City Councilmember Jamelia Brown called for the mayor to resign while Vice Mayor Cesar Zepeda called for a censure. Contra Costa County Board of Supervisor John Gioia called the posts “deeply offensive, disrespectful, antisemitic and unacceptable” – he called for a public apology and urged the city council to censure.

According to the staff report, Councilmembers have received thousands of emails requesting formal removal or impeachment against Mayor Martinez.

At the January 6 meeting, Zepeda brought forward the proposed censure of Martinez as an “emergency” item to be placed on the agenda. After discussion, the item was voted down in a 2-5 vote but could return at a future meeting. How they voted:

Mayor Eduardo Martinez – no
Vice Mayor Cesar Zepeda – Yes
Councilmember Soheila Bana – No
Councilmember Jamelia Brown – Yes
Councilmember Claudia Jimenez – No
Councilmember Doria Robinson – No
Councilmember Sue Wilson – No

According to the agenda item:

In December 2025, following a violent antisemitic attack, in Bondi Beach, Australia, targeting a Jewish religious celebration, in which 15 victims, the youngest, a 10-year-old and the oldest an 87-year old Holocaust survivor, were killed, Mayor Eduardo Martinez shared and amplified social media content that advanced conspiracy theories and generalized claims attributing responsibility for antisemitism and violence against Jews.

The content shared by the Mayor, in the aftermath of a deadly antisemitic attack, echoed widely recognized antisemitic tropes, including collective blame and conspiracy narratives, and failed to distinguish between the actions of a government and Jewish people as a group.

Mayor Martinez has amplified antisemitic rhetoric in his LinkedIn account. He shared posts that promoted false-flag conspiracy theories and reposted messages tacitly supporting the October 7 Hamas terror attacks; the dissemination of such content by the Mayor of Richmond, in the aftermath of a deadly antisemitic attack, caused substantial harm, fear, and distress within the Jewish community of Richmond.

Unfortunately, this is not the first time the Mayor Martinez has caused substantial harm, fear, and distress within the Jewish community and undermined public confidence in the city’s commitment to protecting marginalized communities, by promoting false-flag conspiracy theories and reposting messages supporting the October 7 Hamas terror attacks.

Councilmembers have received thousands of emails from community members, community leaders, and elected officials from Contra Costa County and the larger Bay Area calling on the Councilmembers for action “for conduct that has substantially violated the public trust, caused demonstrable harm to members of the community, and appears inconsistent with the ethical and professional standards required of an elected official”.

The overwhelming theme of all the messages received by the City Council were that the Richmond community does not feel safe or secure under Mayor Martinez’s leadership and there is a need to take concrete steps to repair the harm and restore trust within the Richmond community, as listed below.

Mayor Martinez has had reasonable notice of this resolution and an opportunity to be heard before its adoption. The City Council has considered Mayor Martinez’s response in deciding to adopt this resolution; and

According to the resolution:

Finds and declares that Mayor Eduardo Martinez’s continuous actions in sharing and amplifying the referenced content constituted antisemitic conduct, based on the nature, context, and impact of the material shared;
Formally censures Mayor Eduardo Martinez for engaging in conduct that reinforced antisemitic narratives, caused harm to the Jewish community, and fell below the standards of care, judgment, and responsibility required of the Mayor’s office;
Unequivocally condemns the statements Mayor Martinez recirculated, following the Bondi, Australia massacre and disavows them on behalf of the City and the community it serves;
Unequivocally condemns antisemitism, including conspiracy theories, collective blame, and rhetoric that normalizes or excuses violence against Jewish people, and affirms that such conduct has no place in Richmond;
Calls upon Mayor Martinez to:
- Publicly affirm, through official City channels, his understanding and accountability for the harmful antisemitic content of his online posts;
- Undertake meaningful engagement, facilitated by a neutral third party, between the Mayor and impacted members of the Richmond Jewish community, that includes Temple Beth Hillel of Richmond as the only synagogue located in Richmond, and is focused on understanding and acknowledgement of harm done, and building a relationship of trust and accountability with leaders of the Richmond Jewish community, within the first calendar quarter of 2026;
- Participate in a minimum of 16 hours of live training on antisemitism, including how antisemitism interacts with racism, by no later than March 31, 2026; given the sensitivity of the issue, it is essential that antisemitism training be led by an organization with a strong track record, clear expertise in antisemitism, and broad communal trust. Trainings must incorporate the goal of building understanding and confidence; therefore, the training modules should be selected in consultation with Richmond Temple Beth Hillel. Other Councilmembers should be invited to join in the training should they wish to join;
- Take the time to reflect on his actions and honestly analyze if he is able to continue leading our city fairly and equitably for all of our residents.

Calls on all City Councilmembers to exercise heightened care in public communications and to recognize their responsibility not only for statements they issue, but also for content they knowingly share or amplify, especially during times of crisis or violence and the real-world consequences such content can have on vulnerable communities.

Restorative Process

In a separate item, the Council will discuss a restorative process with the mayor and the Richmond Jewish Community.

According to the agenda item:

In light of recent social media posts reshared by the Mayor that used and spread antisemitic ideas, the Mayor is taking proactive steps to address this mistake. In addition to meeting with the Rabbi and leaders of Temple Beth Hillel and other Richmond Jewish leaders, he will participate in an educational training focused on antisemitism. This training will also be optionally available for city council members who wish to attend. The initiative aims to guard Richmond against the national increase in antisemitic speech and actions, including violence, as well as the ways that it is used to divide coalitions that are dedicated to social progress, a vital part of Richmond’s history and present. It also aims to build a trusting and collaborative relationship between the

Mayor and the diverse Jewish community in Richmond and to welcome city leadership to be part of this.

The action, ACKNOWLEDGE the Mayor’s participation in an antisemitism training led by trainers recommended by Temple Beth Hillel leadership, offer City Council members the option to attend voluntarily, DIRECT the Mayor to meet with Rabbi Saxe-Taller at least two additional times in the first quarter of the year, and DIRECT the Mayor to issue a public apology at a City Council meeting and in a local newspaper – Mayor’s Office (Mayor Eduardo Martinez 510-620-6503)

According to the agenda item, by engaging in this training and inviting broader participation, the mayor aims to demonstrate a commitment to understanding, dialogue, and cultural education. This effort is a step
toward healing and ensuring that all community members feel respected and valued.

If You Go
Richmond City Council Meeting
Tuesday, January 20, 2026 at 5:00 P.m.
Community Services Building, 440 Civic Center Plaza, Richmond, CA 94804
Full Agenda: Click Here