Video emerges of embattled LA Council member de Leon's physical altercation with activist

Los Angeles City Council member Kevin de Leon, who was under fire earlier this year after tapes surfaced of him making racist comments, is facing renewed scrutiny after video shows him shoving a community activist calling for his resignation.

Video published by progressive groups shows de Leon pushing a man, identified as Jason Reedy, onto a table and down a hallway on Friday. De Leon said he was attacked and was defending himself.

"He was caught on those racist anti-Black leaked tapes and now he's assaulting Black folks. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!" tweeted the page for progressive groups RootsAction & J-Town Action と Solidarity.

The groups' video starts with de León pushing the activist, but does not show what led up to the altercation.

Audio leaked in October of LA Council members Nury Martinez, Kevin de Leon and Gil Cedillo making racist comments in a conversation a year earlier. A chorus of voices, including President Joe Biden, called for the council members to resign.

De Leon on Saturday said he, a staff member and a volunteer were "cornered and physically assaulted" by the activist during a holiday event. 

"Reedy and his accomplices started by shouting obscenities and disrupting a community toy giveaway and tree lighting ceremony already underway," de Leon said.

"Reedy launched a pelvic thrust, followed by a headbutt to my forehead. My response, in defense of myself, was to push him off of me. In the ensuing struggle, Reedy struck me in the face with a closed fist, violently elbowed a female staff member, and injured a volunteer in front of horrified parents and children," the councilman said.

De Leon said the political environment is "dangerous" and must be curbed before "more serious harm" occurs.