Nithya Raman, a 45-year-old democratic socialist and frontrunner for Los Angeles mayor, was filmed by woke influencer Ed Choi at a rally where she allegedly called LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell a "fascist liar," though her campaign later claimed the phrase was directed against ICE and the Trump administration. The post, featuring a red X over Chief McDonnell's face, was quickly deleted from Raman’s Instagram page amid criticism that such rhetoric could endanger law enforcement. Mayor Karen Bass and the LAPD union criticized Raman's language as dangerous and extreme, given recent threats against city officials.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-07,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
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A socialist lawmaker likely to become the next mayor of Los Angeles allegedly called the LAPD police chief a 'fascist liar' in a now-deleted Instagram post.
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lawmaker → see → post
Nithya Raman, a 45-year-old democratic socialist, was interviewed on video at her rally on Sunday by woke influencer Ed Choi.
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Raman → interview → Choi
'Only you can stop fascist liars,' the pair said while smiling.
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pair → stop → liars
The reference appears to be a riff off the public service announcement, 'Only you can prevent forest fires.'
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you → appear → fires
She then declared how she would remove Police Chief Jim McDonnell as a photo of him appeared with a large red X over his face.
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photo → declare → face
By Tuesday morning, Raman's campaign page had removed the video from Instagram.
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page → remove → Instagram
Choi also removed the post.
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Choi → remove → post
The latest poll from FM3 Research, conducted in late September, shows the socialist holds a four-point lead over incumbent Mayor Karen Bass.
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socialist → conduct → Bass
Bass, 73, blasted Raman over the video in a statement to the Los Angeles Times and noted how the councilwoman voted against police hiring earlier this year and had previously called for defunding the police.
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councilwoman → blast → police
'But labeling them "fascists" — when officers put on the uniform every day to keep us safe — is crossing the line,' Bass said.
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Bass → label → line
In a now deleted Instagram post by woke influencer Ed Choi and Nithya Raman campaign page, the democratic socialist allegedly called the LAPD police chief a 'fascist liar'
Raman, a 45-year-old democratic socialist, was interviewed on video at her rally on Sunday by Choi.
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Raman → delete → Choi
In an edited video the pair gave toothy smiles while saying: 'Only you can stop fascist liars'
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you → edit → liars
'It's dangerous and extreme rhetoric, and it has no place in this city — let alone from someone trying to become mayor.'
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it → have → someone
That same sentiment was echoed by the Los Angeles Police Protective League (LAPPL), the city's police union.
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sentiment → echo → League
'Nithya Raman’s social media post that circles Chief McDonnell’s face in red and then crosses out his face is no joke, in fact it is dangerous,' said the LAPPL to the Daily Mail.
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LAPPL → circle → Mail
The violent political rhetoric that has overtaken our public discourse has in many instances led to violence.
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that → overtake → violence
Raman’s social media post can be seen as a dog whistle by unhinged individuals to go after Chief McDonnel.'
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post → see → McDonnel
The LAPPL spokesman pointed to how the Chief and the Mayor have a security detail, because they are under constant threat.
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they → point → threat
'Unfortunately Ms. Raman has now amplified those threats, and further endangered our members who serve on these details.
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who → amplify → details
It also underscores why she has no business leading Los Angeles,' the LAPPL added.
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LAPPL → underscore → Angeles
Raman's campaign said Choi was responsible for how the video was edited and claimed she never called Bass or the chief 'fascist liars.
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she → say → Bass
'
'Nithya was interviewed by several social media creators on Sunday,' the campaign told the Daily Mail.
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campaign → interview → Mail
'In one interview, the creator asked her to repeat his phrase, "only you can stop fascist liars," which she said in reference to ICE and the Trump administration's violent kidnappings that continue in our city today.
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that → ask → city
Her campaign spokesperson said the video was edited to show Bass during a different portion of the interview.
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video → say → interview
Raman declared she would remove Police Chief Jim McDonnell as a photo of him appeared with a large red X over his face
The socialist holds a four-point lead over incumbent Mayor Karen Bass, who blasted Raman over the upload
'
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who → declare → upload
Nithya never used that phrase to describe Mayor Bass, Chief McDonnell, or LAPD officers, which is why we removed ourselves from the post and asked the creator to take it down immediately,' the campaign added.
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campaign → use → it
However, the video did start with Raman and Choi stating, 'Only you can stop fascist liars,' and Raman's campaign collaborated on the post, sharing the interview to its nithyaforthecity account.
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campaign → start → account
The video then immediately cut to the influencer asking Raman a question about Bass and McDonnell.
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influencer → cut → Bass
'Los Angeles has become extremely fascist, especially because Karen Bass appointed Jim McDonnell as the chief of police,' Choi said.
'
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Choi → become → police
I wanted to know, especially for the immigrant community that's watching, what is your plan to de-fascicize this city?'
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plan → want → city
Raman answered by saying the LAPD protects federal immigration agents and added that change starts from the top.
'I think there's a lot that we can do to make sure our LAPD is actually protecting people instead of protecting ICE on our streets, as we saw happen,' Raman said.
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Raman → answer → streets
A campaign spokesperson for Raman denied that she called Bass or McDonnell fascist liars and said Choi was responsible for the video editing and asked he delete it
'
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he → deny → it
I think that starts with a culture shift from the very top and new leadership in the department.
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that → think → department
'
'I don't believe that Chief McDonnell has met this moment,' she added.
'
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she → believe → moment
And I will make sure that we are appointing a police chief who can really respond to the needs that immigrant Angelenos have and that every resident of Los Angeles has.
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resident → make → Angeles
'
Raman and Choi once again repeated, 'Only you can stop fascist liars,' before the video ended.
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video → repeat → liars
The Daily Mail has reached out to Raman's campaign, Choi, the LAPD and the Los Angeles Police Protective League for comment.
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Mail → reach → comment
The Aporia
