news: Woman Gets Death Threats For Fighting Cudahy Corruption

Cudahy Mayor David Silva, left, and Councilman Osvaldo Conde (credit:Cudahy.ca.us)

CUDAHY (CBS) — A community activist in the city of Cudahy who’s been spearheading a campaign against corruption in her city, says she’ll continue speak up in spite of receiving death threats.

“They told me I needed to stay quiet because there was a bigger organization that was going to take care of me if I didn’t keep quiet,” Blanca Ramos, an activist in the city of Cudahy told CBS2/KCAL9 reporter Carter Evans.

Ramos has been very vocal about speaking out in her community ever since three officials—City Council member Osvaldo Conde, Mayor David Silva and Angel Perales, who runs the city’s Code Enforcement Division—were arrested by the FBI on bribery and corruption charges.

Initially, Ramos figured she’d made a political enemy when she was confronted, but she was wrong.

The individual made references about the 18 street gang and said gang members were working from jail and her neighborhood.

The man allegedly told Ramos, “You don’t want your children without a mother.”

But those threats haven’t stopped Ramos who’s now meeting with friends and other activists from neighboring cities to help determine what her next move will be.

“These are nothing but thugs with sticks and knives. We have the sheriff, the FBI and the city behind us. We are ready for that fight,” Chris Garcia, a community activist in Cudahy told CBS2/KCAL9 reporter Carter Evans.

Ramos and other witnesses have filed a police report and gave investigators a description of the man who threatened her life.

The Cudahy resident says she hopes her courage will convince more people to speak up against corruption in the city.

“I encourage everyone in Cudahy to get involved get informed and stand up for their rights,” Ramos said.

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