The Palm Bay City Council voted to send a letter to Gov. Ron DeSantis to ask him to remove one of its members who posted anti-Indian immigration comments on his social media accounts last week.
After more than two hours of public comment from more than 50 people Thursday, the council voted 4-1 to send the letter asking for the state to remove council member Chandler Langevin, who is in his first term in office.
Just ahead of the vote, Langevin spoke to the council.
“You can vote for the letter tonight. Hope you do. It’s going to be worthless. I’m going to be here for another three years. Get used to it,” he said.
Public outcry began after Langevin posts to X including one that stated, “We must address the Indian question,” which many called out as mirroring the infamous question posed by Nazi leader Adolf Hitler about Jews.
A later post that has since been deleted stated, “There’s not a single Indian that cares about the United States. They are here to exploit us financially and enrich India and Indians. America for Americans.”
Langevin’s posts he says were to voice his opposition to what he perceives are too many H-1B visas given to people from India, and that those visas have taken jobs and resources away from Americans.
“Deport every Indian immediately,” he posted on X in September in response to a report of a truck driver in the country illegally that caused a crash.
He did say at the meeting he was going to reach out to local members of the Indian-American community.
“I don’t believe in just apologizing because the cameras are on me, and I want it to be genuine if it’s going to happen,” he said. “At the same time, we’re going to have tough conversations about things like illegal immigration. We’re gonna have tough conversations about things like Visa abuse and certain other things.”
Langevin also took to social media after the vote, calling out many of the speakers as being from out of town.
“For every lefty looney that came to yell at me tonight there are thousands of normal Americans that live in my city that don’t come to meetings because they know I will represent them.” he said.
Langevin defended his speech ahead of the meeting, while calling out his fellow council members, three of which are Republican with just one Democrat.
“I don’t personally believe expressing my political opinions in the ‘public square’ of X meets the requirements for dismissal, but unfortunately I believe the caliber of ‘Republican” on my council will lead to the formal request being drafted,” he posted. “I’ll certainly respect the governor’s decision but I will not stop fighting to preserve Florida for my posterity in whatever capacity that may be.”
His comments drew criticism that so far has culminated in the public hearing, although Langevin has since tried to clarify his statements were not aimed at Indian-Americans, but Indians in the nation not embracing American culture.
“There’s a place for those manageable numbers of immigrants who truly want to be American but I’m not seeing that from the Indian community,” he posted. “I will raise my children in a country that an American would recognize and that an American child deserves to be raised in. It’s that simple.”
Ahead of the Thursday meeting, he was also removed as a board member of Palm Bay’s Odyssey Charter School. A note sent by school officials to parents this week said his statements did not reflect the school’s beliefs.
“For 27 years, we’ve welcomed families of all backgrounds, teaching children to appreciate the cultures, languages, and experiences of others — reflecting the best traditions of the United States as a vibrant tapestry, a nation strengthened by freedom, opportunity, and the contributions of many peoples,” the letter reads.
Langevin left his seat, so was not present for many of the public comments.
The majority of commenters called out Langevin’s comments as racist, with the majority from Brevard County and some from Palm Bay itself.
“I wish I knew who hurt you and put all that hatred in your heart. The fact that you are not even ashamed of your blatant racism against is absolutely intolerable, which means you haven’t gotten to know your town, in your community, your own constituents,” said one commenter.
Several members, though, spoke in defense of Langevin’s free speech rights.
“Let’s talk about fairness. Just a few weeks ago, many people rallied to defend Jimmy Kimmel’s free speech when his words spiked controversy, where is that same energy now?” said one of the commenters. “Those same voices that were quick to attack the councilman for his speaking his mind on illegal immigration and H-1B abuses, issues that affect American jobs and our economy.”
Just before the final vote, Palm Bay Mayor Rob Medina took the opportunity to call out Langevin’s actions as hurtful.
“We are a diverse community. Diversity is not based on the color of your skin. Diversity is built on our different cultures, our different lifestyles, the train of thought and those ideologies where brings us together,” he said noting it was this belief he wrote in an open letter to the city of Palm Bay as reaction flowed in to Langevin’s stances.
“This isn’t about H1 visas. This is solely about what you wrote,” he said listing some of the X post statements. “You have shown me who you are, and I have to believe in what I see.”
He closed with raised voice drowned out by cheers in the meeting audience.
“I hope that the governor deports you out of these chambers and out of that door,” he said.
