Plainfield Mayor Chides Councilwoman Over Pledge, Prayer

The mayor of Plainfield is upset that a council member does not participate during the Pledge of Allegiance and prayer at the start of each meeting.

Plainfield Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs raised the issue after Councilwoman Rebecca Williams chided her for interrupting at Monday's meeting.

The mayor responded, "You sit there every meeting and grunt  and on top of that you don't even do your Pledge of Allegiance. Don't talk to me about disrespect!"

Williams tells the Courier News of Bridgewater her Christian beliefs preclude her from pledging to any flag and she doesn't pray because she believes in separation of church and state.

The mayor says while it's Williams' prerogative not to salute the flag, maybe the councilwoman should step out of the room.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)