"We've had some racial equity initiatives going on in the city of St. Louis Park for a while where we're trying to get more diverse communities and historically less engaged communities to come and participate in our public process"

Star Tribune reports that the city will of St. Louis will no longer start their city council meetings with the pledge of allegiance. The reason for this controversial change is the belief that the Pledge of Allegiance is offensive to the “new diverse population”

City Council Tim Brausen said “Our community tends to be a very welcoming and increasingly diverse community, and we believe our citizens will understand. I don’t think we’re going to be any less welcoming by not starting our meeting out with the standard ritual.”

The motion to remove the pledge passed unanimously by the city council. Star Tribune reports that roughly half the cities in Minnesota no longer start their meetings with the recital of the pledge of allegiance.

“We’ve had some racial equity initiatives going on in the city of St. Louis Park for awhile where we’re trying to get more diverse communities and historically less engaged communities to come and participate in our public process,” Brausen said.

WATCH:

SHOCKING: Democrats on the St. Louis Park, MN City Council voted unanimously to eliminate the pledge of allegiance at their meetings. 🧐 pic.twitter.com/quurAmBm3I — Minnesota Senate Republicans (@mnsrc) June 26, 2019

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