El Rancho High School teacher and Pico Rivera City Councilman Gregory Salcido has been removed from all city council committees after disparaging comments he made about members of the U.S. military. The six-minute rant was recorded by one of his students and released in a now viral video that has elicited condemnation from residents and colleagues, a local restaurant, and even the U.S. Pentagon.
Salcido began his diatribe by referring to military men and women as “dumb shits” and “the lowest of our low.”
“If you join the military it’s because you had no other options,” Salcido told his classroom. “It’s because you didn’t take care of business academically and your parents didn’t love you enough to push you, and then you didn’t love yourself enough to push yourself…”
“Why would anyone ever sign up for that?”
A group of individuals far braver and more accomplished than Mr. Salcido took to social media this week to answer that question. Members of the U.S. military and their families flooded Salcido’s twitter feed with bios of some of the incredible men and women who serve in our armed forces.
.@gregorysalcido I'm respectfully requesting a meeting with you @ArlingtonNatl Section 60, Grave 9927. I will pay all of your expenses. You and I should begin a conversation for the sake of all that's good. This is my son Aaron. KIA 6 AUG 2011. If not us, who? If not now, when? pic.twitter.com/xYWBrKxK2G
— Karen Vaughn (@KarenVaughn_GSM) January 28, 2018
Greg, let me introduce you to Petty Officer Second Class (SEAL) Jonny Kim. Thats an enlisted E5 in the Navy. He is the newest astronaut for NASA. WTF have you done for this country?https://t.co/dZGKrVu3Xs
— Wayne Mack (@mackfiftyone) January 28, 2018
I am a veteran, teach college, and have a Ph.D. You embarrass me. I won't hate on you. I pray though you find a new line of work because you are what is wrong with our youth today.
— MPW (@marc3702) January 29, 2018
Meanwhile, a local restaurant has pulled a popular lunch special from its menu in response to the controversy. Zapien’s Salsa Grill will no longer be offering its enchilada plate “The Mayor” which was named in honor the councilman and three time mayor of Pico Rivera.
The city council offered swift and unanimous condemnation of Salcido’s comments before stripping him from all committees.
"I am appalled that someone who is educating our children in the classroom can demean our veterans, our men and women in uniform," said Bob Archuleta, himself a former paratrooper and father of two West Point graduates.
The school district, El Rancho Unified, confirms it is also investigating. They would not comment on the matter other than to acknowledge that it is Salcido’s voice on the tape. This is not the first time El Rancho has had Salcido on their radar. He made headline several years ago after allegedly slapping one of his students in the head.
Salcido has not issued an apology for his comments.
Read more at the Los Angeles Timesand the Washington Post.