Inglewood Mayor Faces Calls for Resignation Amid Groping Allegations
Community activists and residents are demanding Mayor James T. Butts step down following accusations of inappropriate conduct with a teen cheerleader.
Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts is facing intense pressure to resign after being accused of groping a teenage cheerleader during a community event photo opportunity on Tuesday. Activists and residents have voiced their outrage, calling for Butts, who has served as mayor since 2011, to step down immediately.
“You need to go today. This is nothing new here in the city of Inglewood,” activist and Inglewood resident Yolanda Davidson stated at a news conference. “The residents of Inglewood, myself included, and the people who could not be here today, are calling for his resignation, effective today.”
Inglewood Commissioner Leonard Redway, who was present at the event, told Fox 11 that while he did not witness the alleged conduct, he observed a commotion and saw a young girl become visibly upset. Redway also shared cell phone video appearing to show Butts visiting a neighborhood later that night, around 10:30 p.m., to speak with individuals he believed were connected to the incident.
“Why would you show up at someone’s house at 10:30 at night if nothing happened,” Redway questioned, adding, “Come to find out there’s all kinds of people working behind the scenes to cover this [expletive] up.”
Butts' office has vehemently denied the allegations, labeling them as “categorically false” in a statement to KNX News. The mayor's office provided a photo they claim shows Butts standing at the edge of a group of cheerleaders, with his outside hand resting on the shoulder of the person in front of him. The statement asserted, “There was no sexual touching, groping, assault, or other inappropriate conduct of any kind.”
According to the mayor's office, no misconduct was alleged at the time of the photo. They suggested that political opponents are using the accusation as "political ammunition" as Butts campaigns for his fifth term. Activist Earl Ofari Hutchinson emphasized the seriousness of such allegations, stating, “Sexual allegations cannot be underplayed. They’re serious.” Another activist, Najee Ali, expressed belief that “Mayor Butts sexually groped a young minor.”
The alleged victim has not filed a police report, as her family is reportedly seeking to protect her identity, according to Fox 11. The California Post has reached out to Butts' campaign for comment.