A Winooski man has pleaded not guilty to a disorderly conduct charge with a hate crime enhancement after allegedly yelling racist slurs at a white woman and her biracial daughter.
Don Lindsay, 67, faced the charge late last month at Vermont Superior Court in Burlington.
The charge followed an incident at the post office in Winooski, in which Lindsay yelled racist slurs at Megan Gregory, 31, and her daughter because of how long it was taking them to come out of the post office, according to an affidavit in the case. Only one customer was allowed inside the post office at a time because of Covid-19 social distancing guidelines.
“I screamed and said some pretty nasty things but I did not put a hand on her,” Lindsay told police after the incident, according to the affidavit.
Lindsay said he lost his patience waiting in line, but that he shouldn’t have blown up at Gregory.
“I admit I was wrong for yelling,” he said to police on the scene, according to court records. When asked by police why he would say something like that, he said, “I don’t like Blacks, I’m sorry I am prejudiced but I don’t care.”
Gregory told police she was afraid for herself and her daughter during the incident. She said at several points, Lindsay tried to physically charge them, and seemed like he was going to hit them.
Gregory said she was glad her 2-and-a-half-year-old daughter, who has autism, wasn’t able to understand Lindsay’s words.
Court records said Gregory reported that she heard Lindsay yell things like “f— negro child,” “white power,” and “African f—,” as she and her child left the post office. Gregory said she yelled back at Lindsay that he was a racist, to which he replied he was proud to be racist, records said.
“I ask that you stay safe out there because if he’s willing to attack a woman with her child because he can’t be patient at the post office who knows how else he or anyone else will lash out,” Gregory wrote in a Facebook post about the incident.
Lindsay faces up to 2 years in prison and a $2,000 fine if convicted. He was released at the arraignment on conditions.
