Residents and advocates demand apology after vice mayor’s social‑media analogy; council debate over cutting travel funding collapses

Several residents and local group representatives used the council’s public‑comment period to criticize comments Vice Mayor Diemer made on social media comparing a legal decision to sexual assault and other violent analogies.

Beth White, representing Citizens United for Lynchburg, told the council she and others were hurt and called the comparison “morally repulsive,” saying it amounted to victim‑shaming and requested an apology. Reese Hayes of the Central Virginia Young Democrats described the analogies as “insult and a trauma reaction,” and asked that the vice mayor issue a public apology and engage with survivors’ services.

In response, Vice Mayor Diemer addressed the council and said he stood by his earlier criticisms of an election but apologized to anyone offended by his choice of words, saying he would try to choose words more carefully in the future.

Following public comment, Councilor Reed moved to add a late item to general business: consideration of whether city funds should pay for the vice mayor’s travel to a Chicago promotional trip. After heated public and council exchanges—during which some councilors said the trip was a privilege and others said the unpaid option should be exercised—the motion to strip funding was seconded but ultimately withdrawn by the sponsor and did not proceed to a final vote.

The episode concluded with a failed censure‑style attempt and a motion to “dispose” of the issue so the council could proceed to other business and closed session; the council then moved into closed session for unrelated items.

What happens next: No formal council action to rescind travel funding occurred; several residents said they will continue to press for accountability, and some councilors urged private reconciliation and reflection.