A series of videos from a Democratic city councilman are going viral—after he was caught smearing U.S. Marines in front of a group of students.
Councilman Gregory Salcido, 49, is a teacher at El Rancho High School in Pico Rivera, California, as well as a local city councilman. He spotted a student wearing a U.S. Marines sweater, and proceeded to go on a rant—which was recorded by a student, and then put on Facebook by a local parent, Kimberlie Flat.
In the video, Salcido called U.S. Marines a “bunch of dumb sh*ts” who are “not academics, not high-level thinkers.” In Salcido’s mind, members of the U.S. military are the “lowest of the low” and “not talented people.”
Salcido further went on to slam people who join the military as doing so because they’ve failed at school and “have no other options” because of laziness—that they “didn’t love [themselves] enough to push [themselves].”
“Why would anyone ever sign up for that?” Salcido wondered, after describing a daily regiment of people “telling you what to do” in the military.
Flauto posted the videos on Facebook, writing, “Help me make this go viral. My friends son was sporting his marine sweater while this liberal douche teacher rants about the military. The school is called El rancho high school in the city of pico rivera california. The teacher’s name is MR. Salcido.”
She also included contact information of school board members, urging parents to take action.
Flauto’s colleagues—both at El Rancho High School and on the city council of Pico Rivera—were quick to condemn his comments.
“I am appalled that someone who is educating our children in the classroom can demean our veterans, our men and women in uniform,” said Pico Rivera Councilman Bob J. Archuleta, who was appointed by President Obama to the West Point Board of Visitors, and who had two sons graduate from the prestigious military academy.
“This is not something that we are taking lightly,” said Pico Rivera school board President Aurora Villon. “I cannot discuss it because it is a personnel matter, other than we are conducting a full-blown investigation. We are moving very diligently.”
Salcido has been in hot water before: back in 2012, he was placed on leave for hitting a student at El Rancho High School, an event that he called “grossly exaggerated.”
Salcido has since refused to comment on his latest remarks, posting on Facebook: “I don’t think it’s wise for me to make any comments, but I want my friends, family, and students to know we are fine and we respect the rights of free expression for all individuals.”
