Brooklyn, NY – Councilman Robert Cornegy and the Black, Latino and Asian Caucus sang the “Black National Anthem” after reciting the Pledge of Allegiance at a City Council meeting on Thursday, in an effort to continue the conversation and not be silent about what is going on in the country.

Councilman Cornegy stated that the words of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” an iconic hymn of the civil rights movement (that has been adopted as the “Black National Anthem) has been a unifying, rallying cry for support in this country and the words speak to liberty, justice and freedom for African-Americans.

What Councilman Cornegy fails to recognize is that singing the “Black National Anthem” at a City Council meeting is adding fuel to a fire that is on the verge of becoming an inferno.

Is the Star Spangle Banner the “White National Anthem”? Of course not! It is the national anthem of all Americans — Black, White, Latino, Asian, Liberal, Conservative – there is only one national anthem and elected officials who choose to create division among the races should resign from office immediately.

Elected officials are not overpaid football players and shouldn’t be acting like them. Members of the NYC Council have taken an oath of office that states, you swear or affirm to support and uphold the Constitution of the United States, the Constitution of the State of New York, and the Charter of the City of New York. All three constitutions are color blind as evidenced by the diversity of the members elected to each.

Elected officials have an obligation to honor their oath and not take unwarranted actions that provoke racial divide. If elected officials chose racial divide of unity, they should resign immediately.