The St. Paul City Council voted 6-1 on Wednesday to support a resolution condemning Donald Trump’s rhetoric about Muslims and reaffirming that the city is open and welcoming to immigrants and refugees of all backgrounds.

Council member Dai Thao, who sponsored the resolution, amended the language before the vote to omit wording that stated Trump was not welcome within the city.

“Hate speech incites harm, fear … and cuts into the core fabric of our nation,” Thao said Wednesday, addressing the council. “I’ve gotten so many threats, racist letters, telling me to ‘go back to my country and eat rice.’ People like Donald Trump, who preach hate, are very American … and I’m somehow un-American?”

The original wording effectively banning Trump from St. Paul had drawn a critical editorial from the Star Tribune newspaper in Minneapolis. Dan Bostrom cast the sole dissenting vote, noting that even hateful language is protected by the constitutional freedom of speech.

“I’m pleased that this amendment is changed, so that we don’t speak of banning anyone,” said William Finney.

Amy Brendmoen said that before Thao’s amendment, she had felt torn about the vote because entering it into the city record “felt very personal, and very political.”

In an interview, Mayor Chris Coleman said he agreed with amending the resolution.

“We can disagree with people,” Coleman said. “We don’t ban people from the city of St. Paul.”

Frederick Melo can be reached at 651-228-2172.

Follow him at twitter.com/FrederickMelo.