Multiple commenters urge council to oppose Earl Southers’ police‑commission nomination

Several residents used the Sept. 16 public‑comment period to urge the Los Angeles City Council to oppose placing Earl (Earl/Erroll) Southers on a police oversight body, saying he is hostile to Muslim and Black communities.

Multiple speakers — including community members who identified themselves as longtime advocates and a city employee — described Southers as “Islamophobic” and “anti‑Black” and urged the council to reject or withdraw the nomination. One commenter said roughly 2,500 people had signed a petition asking the council to remove the nomination from consideration.

Speakers recounted incidents they said showed Southers’ bias and said a police‑oversight board should not be led by a former officer with those views. “Erroll Salders is a danger to the city, particularly to Black and Muslim people,” one public commenter said during the general comment block. Another commenter said protesters had mobilized and that the council had pulled the item from the agenda out of concern about turnout.

Tancibe Abtula, who identified herself as a city employee, told the council to “let go of ego” and not confirm Southers. Several other commenters made similar appeals and asked councilmembers to listen to youth organizers and community groups.

Why it matters: The nomination or reconfirmation of a police commissioner is a personnel decision that affects the composition of a civilian oversight body; opponents argued that appointing a former officer accused of bias would undermine public trust.

What happened next: Public commenters reported that the nomination had at times been advanced and at other times removed from the agenda; the meeting transcript records public comment and complaints but does not record a final council vote on the nomination during the Sept. 16 meeting.