Minnesota City Reinstates Pledge of Allegiance After Backlash

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A Minnesota city reinstated the Pledge of Allegiance before meetings following a nationwide backlash, including criticism from President Donald Trump.

After the St. Louis Park city council voted in June to stop reciting the pledge, Trump weighed in, predicting the decision highlighted why he would win Minnesota in the 2020 election.

On July 15, the city council voted unanimously to reinstate the pledge. The vote to stop reciting the pledge had also been unanimous.

The move to restore the pledge wasn’t on the council schedule but council member Thom Miller made a motion to bring it to a vote.

“There are many from outside of St. Louis Park who are abusing and harassing our city staff, making it very difficult for them to serve the residents and businesses in our city, which is the very reason our local government exists,” he told the crowd of more than 100 people, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reported.

The crowd was primarily people protesting the original vote, which other council members apologized for.

“I’ve concluded that I made a mistake and I’m sorry and I’m asking for forgiveness,” council member Steve Hallifan said, as reported by Fox9.

Repeated phone calls and emails negatively affected the council, another member added.

“It’s impacting our staff’s productivity and mental health. Our wonderful staff. It’s costing us money,” council member Margaret Rog said.

She suggested that people from outside St. Louis Park weren’t welcome in the city, adding: “You visitors from Coon Rapids, Orono, Lakeville, Rochester—wherever you’re from: take your energy for civic engagement back to your own communities.”

Tim Brausen, another council member, asked people to respect the council.

“This is America, I pledge allegiance to it. As we strive to have liberty and justice for all, please let us have our liberty here and respect our local control,” he said, reported KSTP.

In a statement, the Minnesota Republican wrote on Twitter: “Tonight, St. Louis Park City Council chose to listen to their constituents, & fellow Americans, by restoring the Pledge as a part of their meetings. Republicans & Democrats alike should be proud to recite the Pledge of Allegiance & not made to feel ashamed of being Americans.”

A number of people who attended the meeting shared their thoughts.

“I want to make sure that our traditions continue to be recognized, because this is a great country,” said Michael Smith, from Eden Prairie. “Our pledge needs to be said.”

“I agree with the council in that the pledge should not be said before meetings because it might ostracize some people,” St. Louis Park resident Meg McCormick said.

“Frankly, this is a distraction. It saddens me that it’s gotten the national attention of mindless, but very effective, agitators and organizers,” Kirsten Brekke Albright told the Star-Tribune.

“Why take that right away from other Americans who are really proud to be united and indivisible in one nation?” Marni Hockenberg added. “I think the Pledge of Allegiance celebrates our diversity, that we’re all united.”

From NTD News