In a Minnesota city this week, protesters came out in force because of the city council’s controversial decision to end the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance at the start of meetings — and instead to say the pledge only before special occasions, partly in a nod to a “diverse community.”

The St. Louis Park City Council announced its decision after a unanimous vote on June 17, according to a Fox News report.

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The amendment to the council’s rules was seen as an effort to serve a more “diverse community.”

“We concluded that in order to create a more welcoming environment to a diverse community, we’re going to forgo saying the Pledge of Allegiance before every meeting,” Tim Brausen, a council member, said ahead of the vote, Fox News also reported.

Council member Anne Mavity apparently sponsored the rules change — and she told KARE-TV of Minneapolis she didn’t think reciting 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.”

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But conservatives and others have big problems with this — and, in a surprise no doubt to the city council members themselves, some 100 citizens showed up, waved American flags and chanted “USA!” to try to get the council to change its mind on the issue.

Speaking to host Sean Hannity of Fox News’ “Hannity” on Wednesday night, Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) — a former Navy SEAL officer — declared, “We must appreciate who we are as Americans and what brings us together.”

It isn’t about skin color, or ethnicity, or other things, he added — it’s about our shared beliefs and commitments as American citizens of this great nation.

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Noted faith leader Franklin Graham said in a tweet about the issue, “I’m thankful for people who are passionate about our country! There was a large turnout to show their disapproval of the St. Louis Park City Council in Minnesota voting to no longer have the Pledge of Allegiance at the opening of its meetings.”

“They canceled the pledge to make a ‘more welcoming environment,’ he added. “The pledge says, ‘I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America & to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, w/ liberty & justice for all.’ Sounds welcoming to me!”

See the additional tweets below for more information and insights on this issue — including from President Donald Trump — and share your thoughts in the comments section below.