Resolution
Restoring the Pledge of Allegiance to its Secular Origin
WHEREAS the Democratic Party is committed to the First Amendment of the United States Constitution’s principles of equality, inclusivity, and the separation of church and state; and
WHEREAS the phrase “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance, added in 1954, did not then, and does not now, reflect the diversity of religious and non-religious beliefs held by millions of Americans; and
WHEREAS in recent years, there has been a noticeable rise in the influence of Christian nationalist ideologies in government policies, targeting reproductive and LGBTQ+ rights, and promoting religious exemptions that undermine secular governance;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Riverside County Democratic Party, in order to reflect the values of diversity, equality, and inclusion, supports reversion of the Pledge of Allegiance to the pre-1954 version which did not contain the phrase “under God;” and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Riverside County Democratic Party supports removing allusions to religious figures and authority in all state affairs, including, but not limited to the removal of “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance, to ensure that public expressions of patriotism, remain fully secular, to foster a sense of belonging for all Californians regardless of their religious or non-religious beliefs.
Author(s): Edison Gomez-Krauss, AD-36
