On Tuesday, the Richmond city council punted its potential censure of the mayor indefinitely while approving a restorative process for the mayor.
The council was to take up both items Tuesday:
- Q3 – Restorative Process (staff report below)
- Q4 – Censure of Mayor (staff report below)
Prior to any voting, during the Restorative Process conversation, Mayor Eduardo Martinez offered the following apology:
“It’s difficult to apologize not because one is sincere but because there are people who are not ready to accept an apology,” said Martinez. “I have made several apologizes and the problem with making apologies, especially to a large group, is that everybody needs to hear something different. So I can make an apology and its acceptable to a large group of people but its not acceptable to another group so I make another apology. So then its acceptable to one group of people and not the first group of people that accepted the apology. So its like making apology after apology after apology.”
He explained he spoke with people to ensure a large group of people would accept an apology—most people. He then read the apology out loud.
“To the Jewish community of Richmond and to our broader community. I owe you a clear and ambiguous apology. Antisemitism is real. It is not abstract or theoretical. It creates fear, isolation, and danger for Jewish people, including right here in Richmond. As mayor, my words carry weight. In this instance, I failed to meet the responsibility that my position requires. I reposted content online that included antisemitic tropes and conspiracy theories, which have long been used to dehumanize Jewish people and justify violence against them. I was wrong to share them and I take full responsibility for the harm I caused. I regret the content I reposted and I am deeply sorry. Racism and bigotry of any kind have no place in our city. My apology is also dedicated to the people who felt they had they had to choose between taking concerns of antisemitism seriously or continuing to support me and the larger vision of justice that we strive toward. We must be clear that we will not allow antisemitism in our movements, nor will we allow antisemitism to be weaponized against progressive causes.
It is legitimate and important to critique political ideologies and power structures, but it is never acceptable to invoke dehumanizing ideas. I’ve been outspoken in my criticism of the Israeli government by allowing valid criticism of Israel’s policies and actions to drift into incorrect and unsubstantiated claims. I regret that I compromised the integrity of the Palestinian solidarity movement.
Here in Richmond, we are serious about confronting racism in every form and I am grateful that the public is holding me accountable. I received direct constructive engagement from Rabbi Julie Saxe-Taller from Temple Beth Hellel who responded with honesty and care. She met with me face to face to help me understand on a human level why what I reposted was antisemitic how it landed and how it contributed to fear among some Jewish members of our community. She also guided me toward concrete steps to begin repairing the harm I caused. Rabbi Saxe-Taller’s leadership reflects the very best in Richmond, a commitment to mutual respect and collaboration.
I also sought advice from Rabbi Yitzchok Wager and Rabbi Cat Zavis and I will follow their recommendations to study the history of antisemitism. I understand that learning alone is not the same as repair, but learning is essential to repair. But learning is essential if repair is to be real and lasting. Richmond is a proud multifaith community and our city is strong because we meet our challenges together. I believe in a future we can be proud of, not because we avoided mistakes, but because we face them together with courage and honesty.”
When it came time to vote on the Restorative Process, Councilmember Zepeda attempted to include the censure (Q4) in with the (Q3) agenda item–claiming time left in the meeting. His amendment failed in a 3-4 vote with councilmembers Brown, Robinson and Zepeda in favor. However, Martinez, Bana, Jimenz Wilson were against. The council then approved restorative process without a censure (see below) in a 6-1 vote with Brown dissenting.
Following the Q3 vote, when it came time to discuss a censure of the mayor for antisemitic conduct and for actions inconsistent with the duties and standards of the office, Zepeda then pulled the item from the meeting and wanted to bring it back at a future date uncertain–thus preventing the public from speaking on the item.
“I believe that the mayor with Q3, this would lead us in the direction we need and we will hold Q4 to a future agenda,” said Zepeda.
Brown, a co-sponsor of the item, disagreed, but said she would support Zepeda.
“I don’t agree. Personally, I’m going to support Councilmember Zapeda. I don’t agree to continue this item. I don’t agree that it should be put off for a further date unknown. Again, checking off checking off the boxes just to get by. this is a complete embarrassment as a city council member that we will not that we will stand in solidarity and say that this was antisemitic conduct and behavior. Yet, we don’t want to formalize it and put it on record. It’s very coward behavior and I’m just going to go ahead and go with whatever you all talking about because obviously it’s very strategic,” said Brown.
The meeting then ended without a formal vote of a censure and its unclear, if, when, a censure could return–thus with the mayor avoiding a censure.
The Richmond city council has been inundated with comments and concerns after the Mayor shared conspiracy theories about the Bondi Beach Massacre in December. This resulted in Zepeda and Brown bringing forward a potential censure. 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 (just Brown and Zepeda in favor) but could return at a future meeting.
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.
Richmond City Council Meeting
Full Agenda: Click Here
Related
- Jan 15 – Letter: Richmond Mayor Needs To Be Held Accountable
- Jan 7 – Richmond City Council Punts Censure of Mayor After Antisemitic Posts
- Dec 23, 2025 – Unity Letter in Response to Richmond Mayor Eduardo Martinez’s Antisemitic and Hateful Rhetoric
- Dec 19, 2025 – More Calls for Richmond Mayor to Resign After Antisemitic Posts
- Dec 19, 2025 – Open Letter: Antisemitic Richmond Mayor Eduardo Martinez Must Resign
