A Michigan city council has decided to no longer recite the Pledge of Allegiance during its meetings after one member suggested it was taking too long.
Last week, the issue was discussed at an organizational meeting of the Ypsilanti City Council, a city of about 20,000 people and home to Eastern Michigan University. The meeting continued late into the night, and members decided to revisit the issue at Tuesday's meeting. Wem Reported.
“I feel like if there are people who don't want to tell us, we're just taking the stance that we won't tell them individually.”
Then-City Councilmember Desirae Simmons introduced a resolution In WEMU's words, they are seeking to end this practice, arguing that “covenants take up space on their agenda.”
“I know people are reluctant to pledge allegiance to the flag, so I'm not participating in that, so I wanted to bring it up as a formal change to the agenda,” Simmons said in a statement.
“Really, our role is for the residents of our community here in the City of Ypsilanti,” she added. M live. “And I think that's what I took the oath of office for, and I think that's enough.”
Simmons and four other councilors voted in favor of withdrawing the pledge. Only one member, Roland Tuson, voted to keep it.
“I think we just take the stance that if someone doesn’t want to say it, we don’t say it individually,” Tuson said. “I don’t think it should be taken off the table completely.”
During the meeting, members discussed potential alternatives to the pledge, including “breathing exercises and other 'grounding' practices,” according to MLive. The two leaders also discussed the moment of silence, which is already a regular topic of discussion.
“We just want to maintain what little time we have left to center ourselves,” Mayor Nicole Brown said. “…I enjoy the moment of tranquility. For me, it feels necessary.”
City council members may make suggestions about possible pledge replacements, but the mayor ultimately sets the agenda, City Manager Andrew Herenga told MLive.
H/T: dave bondi
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