10-year-old in North Carolina kneels during Pledge of Allegiance to protest inequality

The mayor supported him... but not everyone did.
Posted: 6:29 AM, Feb 08, 2019
Updated: 2019-02-18 08:31:23-05

DURHAM, N.C.--- As the Pledge of Allegiance started during Monday night's Durham City Council meeting video shows 10-year-old Liam Holmes drop down.

"What I did was took a knee against racial discrimination, which is basically what (sic) people are mean to other people of different colors," Holmes later said.

His dad Scott snapped a photo. He says he talked to Liam about it beforehand but wasn't sure if he'd follow through. "When he did it, I was really surprised and also really proud of him."

What was the reaction in the room when you did it? Liam was asked. His answer: "No one saw it. Except the people that were watching. And the mayor noticed and he thanked me."

But not everyone shared that opinion.

"It just blew my mind that this was Cub Scouts and politics," said Brandon LaRoque. He is a lifelong Scout and veteran and when he heard about what took place he reached out to CBS 17.

"Part of the Scout oath is to God and your country and I understand people have the right to freedom of speech. I just don't understand why it has to be during the Pledge of Allegiance," LaRoque said.

It was mentioned to Liam that some people might not support what he did. To that he said: "Well, those people just don't listen."