Adams 14 Board Director Turns to Plaintiff, Bows, and Speaks Korean During City Council Meeting
The incident occurred one day before Election Day, as Molina faces a federal civil rights lawsuit filed by Councilmember Craig Kim alleging racial discrimination and First Amendment violations.
Our new report examines the post and its timing: An Hour Before Her Offensive Bow, Lucy Molina Posted an Assault Rifle Meme.
Commerce City, CO — Adams County School District 14 Board Director Lucy Molina concluded her public comments at Sunday night’s City Council meeting by turning toward Councilmember Craig Kim and saying “gamsamnida” (Korean for “thank you”) while bowing in his direction.
The incident occurred as Molina faces a federal civil rights lawsuit filed by Kim, who is Korean American, alleging racial discrimination and First Amendment violations. Kim is suing Molina individually, along with Adams 14 and other district officials, in a case currently pending in U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado.
Molina is also a candidate for Commerce City Council Ward 1 in Tuesday's election. If elected, she would serve alongside Kim on the Council.
The Commerce City Council Exchange
Molina approached the public comment podium to address Council. At the conclusion of her remarks, she said “thank you, muchas gracias...”, then swept her arms behind her back in a theatrical gesture, bowing while saying “gamsamnida” (Korean for “thank you”), and turned toward the dais where Kim was seated.
Video: Official City Council recording, timestamp 17:50
An Asian bow is typically performed with hands at the sides or clasped in front as a gesture of respect. Molina’s bow — arms swept behind her back — more closely resembled a stage performer taking a curtain call.
Molina simultaneously livestreamed her comments on Facebook. Analysis of both videos confirms she physically turned her body and directed her gaze toward Kim’s position. She further appeared to maintain eye contact with him during the bow, an action that in Korean cultural context would typically be viewed as confrontational or mocking rather than respectful.
The combination of the bow’s theatrical form, her verbal address in Korean, and the apparent maintenance of eye contact collectively underscore the gesture’s departure from respectful convention.
Federal Lawsuit Alleges Race and Sex Discrimination by Molina
Kim filed suit against Molina and other Adams 14 officials in August 2025, alleging violations of his First Amendment rights and Equal Protection Clause protections. The lawsuit stems from an April 2025 incident at a District Accountability Committee (DAC) meeting.
According to court filings, Molina sent text messages to Kim in April 2025 referring to him as a white man, "vato," "machista," and "CHAVALA." The complaint alleges Molina falsely accused Kim of physically attacking "women of color" at the April 16, 2025 DAC meeting and threatened to call police.
In their October 28 response to defendants' motion to dismiss, Kim's attorneys at Robinson & Henry, P.C. argue that the Adams 14 Board of Education’s own May 19, 2025 order endorsed Molina's conduct. The Board’s order stated: “It is plainly obvious that both in the text message communication and the Facebook Live recording, Dir. Molina was effectuating her obligations.”
The complaint includes a footnote noting: “Mr. Kim is not white.”
No Contact Restrictions on Molina
Court documents show the Adams 14 Board restricted Kim from contacting Principal Tiffany Narcisse and accessing grounds of a district school for three years. No corresponding order restricts Molina’s contact with Kim.
The May 19 Board order states the restrictions on Kim are “to ensure the safety of [district] employees and board members and to ensure that [district] students, staff, and faculty are afforded the right to pursue educational activities without intimidation.”
Timeline of Intrusive Incidents
Kim’s federal complaint and Molina’s subsequent social media activity document several incidents:
April 15, 2025: Molina sent text messages to Kim including “You are an evil entitled MAN, dude” and “CHAVALA is a man that attacks women, especially women of color.”
April 16, 2025: At a DAC meeting, Molina recorded herself on Facebook Live confronting Kim, stating “men, like Mr. Kim... think they can yell at women like me – women of color – Mexican women, African American women.”
October 24, 2025: Molina posted a photo on social media showing herself in her car holding a DSLR camera with telephoto lens aimed at a Starbucks location. Her caption stated:
Meetings take place at Starbucks and Wendy's for some of the slandering and campaign interference agenda The good thing is that I KNOW 2many pple here. Wow it gets DEEPER n Deeper, corruption everywhere.
November 3, 2025: The City Council incident.
Case Status
The federal case, Kim v. Adams County School District 14, et al. (Case No. 1:25-cv-02505-RMR-KAS), remains pending before U.S. District Judge Raymond P. Moore. Defendants filed a motion to dismiss in September 2025. Kim's response, filed October 28, argues the complaint plausibly alleges municipal liability and constitutional violations.
The election for Commerce City Council Ward 1 takes place today, November 4, 2025.
Comments ()