Cub Scout sparks controversy, takes a knee during Pledge of Allegiance at city council meeting

A 10-year-old Cub Scout took a knee at a city council meeting in North Carolina to take a stand “against racial discrimination.”

Video of the meeting in Durham, N.C., on Monday night shows Liam Holmes dropping down as the pledge is recited. The council had invited the 10-year-old’s Cub Scout pack to lead the pledge, North Carolina news station WCNC-TV reported.

“What I did was took a knee against racial discrimination, which is basically when people are mean to other people of different colors,” Liam told the outlet.

Liam said his dad, Scott Holmes, told him the history of people taking a knee, and the meaning behind the action resonated with him.

Scott Holmes told Raleigh, N.C., news station WTVD-TV that his family members are Quakers and don’t believe in taking oaths for religious reasons. Scott said he and his son hadn’t discussed “the racial inequality part of taking a knee beyond something religious.”

“I told him that it [taking a knee] is just an idea and he should do whatever he feels comfortable with,” Holmes, a civil rights attorney, activist and professor at N.C. Central University in Durham, told the outlet. “Because I know how it can feel weird, awkward to do something different than other folks.”

He was surprised by his son’s actions at the council meeting, but also proud of him.

Holmes, who tweeted out the photo of his son at the meeting, was criticized by some on Twitter for what they saw as a father pushing his ideologies on his son.

Others, however, applauded Liam for standing up for what he believes in.

Durham Mayor Steve Schewel told WCNC-TV he was also surprised by the 10-year-old’s stance, but ultimately supported Liam “expressing his conscience.”

“At a very young age, you can be a model person and stand up for what you believe,” he said. “One of the things that we really have to be aware of is what our flag really stands for. Our flag stands for freedom of individual expression and freedom to express your conscience and we need to support that all the time.”

Liam’s Cub Scout pack leader declined to comment to the Raleigh News & Observer.

“The Pack doesn’t have any comment. This is a matter for the young man and his father,” the pack stated.

The Boy Scouts of America issued a statement to Yahoo Lifestyle regarding Liam’s actions.

“Our youth members learn the importance of duty to country and honoring the people who serve our nation as part of the values outlined in the Scout Oath and Law,” the statement said. “The American Flag is one of the most important and prominent symbols in the Boy Scouts of America, and reverence for the flag flows through all aspects of Scouting. We value the freedom of everyone to express their opinion and believe to disagree does not mean to disrespect. Scouting is a movement of millions of people, with many different views on a number of topics and we must stay focused on that which unites us – working together to accomplish great things for youth.”

Liam told WCNC-TV that while this was his first time kneeling during the Pledge of Allegiance, it likely won’t be the last time he does it.

“I just liked the idea of it, and now I just feel like doing it every time when we do the Pledge of Allegiance.”

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