Decision to nix Pledge of Allegiance spurs ‘USA!’ chant at Minnesota city council meeting

Protesters were out in force in a Minnesota city this week, upset over the city council’s decision to stop reciting the Pledge of Allegiance at the start of their meetings.

The decision was announced by the St. Louis Park City Council after a unanimous vote on June 17. The amendment to the council’s rules was characterized as an effort to serve a more “diverse community.”

Council member Anne Mavity, who sponsored the rules change, told KARE 11 that she didn’t feel saying the pledge was necessary, especially for non-citizens.

“Not everyone who does business with the city or has a conversation is a citizen,” she said. “They certainly don’t need to come into city council chambers and pledge their allegiance to our country in order to tell us what their input is about a sidewalk in front of their home.”

The council’s meeting to reconsider the controversial change was held on Monday, as nearly 100 citizens waved American flags and chanted “USA!” in a bid to convince the council to reverse course before the change goes into effect next week.

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