A controversy is brewing at San Francisco’s City Hall over one of the newest members of the Board of Supervisors who refuses to recite the pledge of allegiance.
District Six Supervisor Jane Kim rises with her fellow supervisors for the Pledge of Allegiance at each session of the Board of Supervisors, but she does not recite the pledge and has not done so since taking office last month, Fox KTVU reports.
Kim said that she believes it is a personal decision of how to honor the flag and country and has been surprised by the criticism.
"I don't think our flag represents a nation where there's liberty and justice for all," argued Kim.
"And I reserve my right to disagree or to even protest when I think our government isn't representing the best of our ideals or principles."
Kim said she hasn't recited the pledge since high school and stayed silent during her previous tenure as the Board of Education president.
Instead, Kim said she prefers to let her actions speak louder than those 31 words.
UC Hastings Law Prof. Calvin Massey said no law requires elected officials to recite the pledge.
"Jane Kim is completely within her constitutional rights," said Massey. "The cultural perception is if you're an elected official, you're a part of American representative democracy [and] you probably shouldn't have a problem pledging allegiance to the United States."
Click to read more on the Pledge of Allegiance controversy from Fox KTVU.
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