Local Laundromat Owner Issues Apology for Anti-Black Lives Matter Rant

A local Laundromat owner apologized for a verbal exchange with neighbors that led to a boycott of his business and a local protest, according to an online statement.

In posts on Facebook and Twitter and in a story first reported by the Pasadena Black Pages, Fair Oaks Laundry owner Gary Thompson was allegedly caught on video excoriating a woman because she had a Black Lives Matter sticker on her car.

“What I said and the manner in which I said it was inappropriate and wrong and I sincerely apologize,” Thompson said in a press release on Thursday. “Like all humans, I sometimes make mistakes, and in an emotional moment I raised my voice and used offensive language, which is never acceptable.”

In that video, Thompson can be seen at the front door of a residence yelling at a woman.

“I’m not racist, you’re racist. Get that car out of here. All lives matter,” the man yelled. “You’re Japanese do you know your history?”

Thompson, also told the woman to “get that shit out of here.”

It is not known if Thompson has reached out to that woman.

Thompson called the incident a “few regrettable moments” in the press release and said what was “captured on camera do not provide a full or accurate portrayal of who I am as a person.”

On Monday, a man who picked up the phone at the number listed as Fair Oaks Laundry said the business is “temporarily closed and is undergoing a change of ownership.”

A Pasadena Police Department spokesperson told Pasadena Now on Monday, “The department is aware of the comments made by the owner of the laundry mat and have been monitoring social media posts as it relates to the situation.”

On Saturday, a peaceful protest was moved from La Pintoresca Park to focus on the business and social media posts called on local residents not to spend money at the business.

The Black Lives Matter slogan has reemerged since the death of George Floyd at the hands of police officers in Minnesota.

Protests, and in some cases riots, have been held in all 50 states. At least five protests have been held in Pasadena, all of them have been peaceful.

“Like most Americans, I have endured an emotional roller coaster in recent months, grappling with the financial and mental repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic and unrest within our society,” Thompson said. “When that video was taken, I had just returned home from boarding up friends’ businesses in Los Angeles that were mostly shuttered during the quarantine and badly damaged during recent demonstrations.”

Thompson said he was “truly and deeply sorry for his behavior.”

“I am actively committed to learning from this unfortunate event and ensuring that I treat my neighbors and fellow community members with the dignity and respect that people of all backgrounds deserve.”