Watertown official who took a knee during inauguration responds to backlash

WATERTOWN, Mass. — A new Watertown councilor at-large apologized on social media for taking a knee during the Pledge of Allegiance at her recent inauguration.

First time councilor at-large Caroline Bays suddenly dropped to her knees at her inauguration just after the new year, as everyone else put their hands over their hearts.

Boston 25 News spoke with Bays outside of city hall. She told us it's not about disrespecting the flag; she feels we are not living up to the ideals associated with it.

"I felt like I couldn't lie. And it's because I respect the flag. Because I respect, I want what's best for our country," said Bays.

Bays said she got so much push back on social media, she actually posted an apology on Facebook after the fact, saying she plans to stand for the pledge from here on out, with her head bowed in prayer.

Her Facebook post read:

Dear Watertown resident,

I wanted to say a few words to you before the town council meeting tonight.

As many of you know I knelt during the Pledge of Allegiance at the inauguration. I did so because I can not say "with liberty and justice for all" while that is not true in our country. People of color throughout our nation do not experience the same rights and privileges as white Americans. From the disproportionate punishment young children experience in schools to the disproportionate arrests, convictions, and sentences adults receive in the criminal justice system, people of color live with discrimination and persecution that people who are white do not experience.

As long as our nation is not living up to the ideals that our flag is supposed to stand for, I can not say the pledge. We live in an America where there are those among us who can not access the liberty and justice that should be the right of every American. There are children in our country who can not grow up expecting the same rights as other children, solely because of the color of their skin. This is not the America my flag is supposed to stand for. I feel refusing to say the pledge is not an act of irreverence towards the flag. On the contrary, it is because I care so much about our flag, I can not say a false oath before it.

My intention was never to show disrespect. In fact, I feel refusing to declare a false oath is the most respectful thing I can do. However my decision has caused a lot of anger and anguish to some Watertown residents, for which I am truly sorry. So I have been searching for a way to follow my own conscience and extend an olive branch to those who are so upset. People's distress, combined with the fact that I feel it would be difficult to kneel in a respectful manner behind the council table, has had me searching for some middle ground. So tonight, as an act of compromise, I have decided to stand, with my head bowed in prayer during the pledge. It will not violate my conscience and I hope those who are so upset will be able to accept this in the spirit I intend - as an act of peace and conciliation.

Caroline Bays

Councilor-at-Large

"I felt like I could stand and bow my head as gesture of compromise and let them know that I was listening to them," said Bays.

Unlike Facebook, the reaction we got from people in Watertown was overwhelmingly positive.

"I like that people are standing up for the rights of others," said resident Patty Villanova.

"I think it's a good thing and good show of her power to say something and stand up for people," said resident Adam Richter.

Bays said she's moved past the flag debacle and is too busy focusing on her new job and constituents to worry about anything else.

Cox Media Group