Discussion of a resolution honoring the late labor organizer César Chávez prompted a confrontation on the state Assembly floor involving an Inland Empire lawmaker.
Assemblymember Corey Jackson, D-Moreno Valley, took exception Friday, March 28, to comments by Assemblymember Carl DeMaio, R-San Diego, about Chávez, a revered civil rights activist recognized by a federal holiday that fell on Monday, March 31.
DeMaio, who represents northern and eastern San Diego County and won his seat in 2024, spoke in favor of the resolution honoring Chávez.
DeMaio called Chávez “a leader in supporting a secure southern border during his life” who “spoke out against illegal immigration while affirming legal immigration.”
DeMaio added: “I am so thrilled to see my Democratic colleagues rise in support of a civil rights leader and advocate for the Latino community, farmworkers and someone who was one of the earliest voices opposing illegal immigration and supporting a secure southern border.”
In a video posted by DeMaio to X, formerly known as Twitter, Jackson can be heard saying in a raised voice: “It’s time for you to stop being so disrespectful” and “That’s very disrespectful to the heroes of our community.”
Jackson, who also said “It’s not a game” and “You should be disgusted (by) yourself,” is told by a lawmaker presiding over the session to return to his seat. According to POLITICO, Jackson also said: “Grow a soul for a change. That’s a piece of crap move.”
Photo stills shown in the upper-left hand corner of the video show Jackson standing as two women stand between him and DeMaio, who is seated and smiling. The final photo shows Jackson walking away from DeMaio.
After DeMaio spoke, Assemblymember Isaac Bryan, D-Culver City, called DeMaio’s comments “some of the most shameful things that I’ve ever heard on this Assembly floor.”
“When (Chávez) was critical of immigration as a topic, he was critical of the Republican corporations that often used undocumented folks as strikebreakers,” Bryan said.
He added: “The hypocrisy of the far right when it comes to immigration is what César Chávez was against and the way it was weaponized and used to destroy Latino communities.”
In his X post, DeMaio wrote: “A CA Democrat State Rep. physically lunged at me in an angry tirade on the Assembly Floor today simply because I correctly pointed out to him that César Chávez actually supported secure borders and ICE deportations.”
In a phone interview Monday, DeMaio said Jackson went on an “unhinged tirade” and called his behavior “appalling.” He defended his Chávez remarks, saying his comments were “very factual” and “not inflammatory.”
“If (Jackson) wanted to rise and respond to my argument, that’s fair game and that’s quite appropriate,” DeMaio said. “But his behavior is unacceptable and his constituents were let down by his behavior.”
Reached by phone Monday, Jackson said DeMaio exploited a time for honoring Chávez “to go into a political rant about illegal immigration.”
Several Assembly Republicans, including DeMaio, “use our figures to attack another marginalized population for their own political gain.”
Jackson later added: “I found it to be extremely disrespectful to our ancestors or to the ancestors of any group who we’re trying to honor. And they have got to know — and I think they do know, but they just don’t care, which is even a greater insult to a group of people — that these people are off limits. And I wanted to make that clear.”
Jackson denied lunging at DeMaio.
“If I would have lunged at him, I would have got him,” Jackson said.
“Did I approach him? Hell yeah. Did I yell at him? Yes. Did I say that that was a loser move? Absolutely, because it was a loser move. Only losers, only people without souls, use another people’s ancestors to make a political point.”
Responding to Jackson, DeMaio said: “The only acceptable comment from Mr. Jackson should be an apology to his constituents for acting in such an unacceptable and unprofessional manner.”
It’s not the first time Jackson, who was elected in 2022 and reelected in 2024 to represent a district encompassing Perris, Moreno Valley and parts of Riverside, San Jacinto and Hemet, has confronted a Republican on the Assembly floor.
In summer, Jackson had to be physically restrained from going up to Assemblymember Bill Essayli, R-Corona, during a debate about a bill that banned school districts from requiring parents to be told if their children identify as transgender.
“To tell you the truth, I lost it,” Jackson, who is Black and LGBTQ+, said at the time. “Because again, (Essayli) was trying to get some red meat out of it on the backs and at the detriment of our children. I think it just crossed the line for me.”
On Monday, Jackson said he wasn’t worried about getting a reputation for being a hothead.
“What I want to be known for is that I speak up and I get in the way whenever anyone uses a historically marginalized population to make a political point,” he said.
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