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The St. Louis Park City Council voted unanimously Monday night to reinstate its practice of saying the Pledge of Allegiance at the beginning of meetings, after drawing the ire of right-wing media outlets and some conservatives including President Trump. 

At a raucous meeting Monday, council members voted to set aside their agenda and address the pledge controversy right away. City workers had received threatening and harassing messages and phone calls from people across the country who were angered by the council's vote last month to stop saying the pledge at meetings. 

Tired of the attention and concerned for city staff, the council reversed itself. 

"This circus needs to end," Council member Margaret Rog said. 

Protesters — many wearing American flags and Trump hats or shirts — frequently interrupted the council members. One man yelled, "crybaby," and others mocked Rog as she expressed concern for the mental health of city staff. 

Others yelled sexist remarks at women on the council and appeared to question one council member's military service.

The council's initial 5-0 vote was limited in scope: Council meetings would begin without a recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. The point was to make meetings welcoming to people who may not want to say the pledge.

Despite Trump's outcry, St. Louis Park locals not so fired up on pledge debate

But the national media, right-wing blogs and the president's Twitter latched onto the story. Trump tweeted, "Patriots are now having to fight for the right to say the Pledge of Allegiance."

The vote didn't take away anyone's rights to say the pledge; it simply removed it from the council's regular agenda. 

"I want the option to say the Pledge of Allegiance. I don't think that they have the right to take that away from me," protester Marni Hockenberg said. 

When told the council's initial decision wouldn't take away anyone's right to say the pledge, she said "there's not very many people would" say it at meetings if it wasn't as a group. 

That won't be an issue at future meetings. The council appeared eager to get past this issue and back to work. 

"We do need to become one nation, indivisible," Council member Tim Brausen said. "So please join us in working on it."

After St. Louis Park's council members decided to reinstate the pledge, they took a 10-minute break as protesters and reporters filed out. 

, after roll call, was a retirement recognition for a city naturalist.

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At a raucous meeting Monday, council members voted to reinstate saying the pledge before meetings following criticism that overwhelmed city staff.

The St. Louis Park City Council voted unanimously Monday night to reinstate its practice of saying the Pledge of Allegiance at the beginning of meetings, after drawing the ire of right-wing media outlets and some conservatives including President Trump.

St. Louis Park reinstates Pledge of Allegiance at meetings amid protest

A man with a mustache and a hand over his heart holding a flag behind glass

Evan Frost | MPR News

5 council members sit at the front of a room with wooden panels. 

A red Jeep with huge tires drives past American flags. 

A sign held in a lap that says "I live here and I support my city council."

St. Louis Park reinstates Pledge of Allegiance at meetings amid protest

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