PROTESTERS marched down Main Street in downtown Garden Grove on June 3, and along other city streets. A video commentary about the protest has been controversial (Orange County Tribune photo),
There have been protests all across West Orange County for more than a week over the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police. Now there’s a protest over the way one man commented on a rally and march in Garden Grove.
Joshua Lindsay, who has been active in many civic groups in the community for years, is now facing calls to resign from his position on the city planning commission for his controversial narration of the protest on June 3 that began at the Village Green Park.
It proceeded down Main Street and from there did a circuit of many of the city’s major streets. Following the process was Lindsay, who did a live-stream broadcast from a smart phone.
Some viewers and listeners were angered by his comments, including Joshua Kramer, who has asked the council to strip Lindsay of his commission post.
“He made several disparaging and inappropriate comments about the protesters and the cause which they were protesting,” wrote Kramer in an e-mail to the council and The Tribune. He’s heading up a petition drive to oust Lindsay.
He listed several comments from the video, but the one that drew the most criticism appeared to be mocking Floyd, who died after a police officer kneeled on his neck for almost nine minutes. Among his last words were “I can’t breathe.”
While the marchers were chanting, “I can’t breathe,” Lindsay quipped, “Maybe they should sit down if they’re having trouble breathing.”
Lindsay has since been contrite. He posted a lengthy apology on his Facebook account that concluded with “The world is changing and I need to do my part to be cognizant, learn and grow. That is my commitment to you. Please allow me to continue to serve the city I love dearly.
Commenting about the video, he said. “Once I realized what I had said I instantly regretted it. I didn’t realize it ‘till late that night when I rewatched it.”
He said, “It was insensitive” and promised to take “sensitivity training.” He will attend Tuesday’s meeting of the Garden Grove City Council to plead his case.
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