By Macy Meinhardt, Voice & Viewpoint Staff Writer
Escondido City Council Member Michael Morasco faces scrutiny for probing the citizenship status of Escondido Youth Council (EYC) members who chose not to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
The incident occurred at the end of a November 15th city council meeting in which Morasco reportedly approached the group of four EYC members and initiated a conversation about their reasons for not standing up for the flag.
“The first thing he said was, ‘Are you all US citizens?’ He then proceeded to say that since we are, we should have recited the pledge of allegiance,” according to EYC Founder Angela Calderon Pio.
Morasco, a Republican who has served as a city leader for 13 years, has not replied to comment at this time.
As a result, the encounter has since sparked concerns surrounding First Amendment Rights, government ethics, and the role of youth in local governance.
“Whether or not someone chooses to recite the pledge of allegiance is a private matter, not one that is mandated,” said Calderon Pio, who also highlighted that the council member’s approach was hostile and unrelated to the subsequent comments made.
Pio explained that she, along with other EYC member Derek Lam refrained from reciting the pledge but still stood up to avoid attracting attention or creating a disturbance.
Furthermore, in reference to the 1943 landmark case of West Virginia Board of Education Vs. Barnette, the court ruled that compelling students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance and salute the flag violated their First Amendment rights to freedom of speech and freedom of religion. As a result, the decision solidified that individuals cannot be forced to express patriotic sentiments against their will, as it goes against the principles of free speech and individual conscience.
The Escondido City Youth Commission, founded in 2022, is a fully student-led council with a purpose to foster an environment where youth can participate in local government. However, instances such as this one, members say, is a prime example of what drives youth citizens away. According to Pio this was the first meeting the group had attended together, and now some members are questioning whether or not they want to go back.
“To me it came off as though he was trying to intimidate us,” said EYC member Robin Escobar. “Although it was my first time attending, after being approached in that manner by City Councilmember Morasco, it has refrained me from wanting to go back.”
“This kind of behavior is exactly what prevents youth from being involved in their city,” said Michelle Cortes, EYC Co-founder and Vice chair.”
In addition, a recent poll produced by Data for Progress reveals that a majority (70 percent) of Americans 18-29-year-olds already feel that their generation is unrepresented within politics. A 2013 United Nations report found that only 2% of young people are involved in government, despite half of the global population being under thirty-years old–alluding to lack of support, outreach, and overall opportunity.
Meanwhile, the youth council is also citing the ethics policy manual that mandates city Escondido leaders to “conduct themselves in a manner above reproach.” If found in violation of the ethics code and voted on by three members of the City Council, the policy outlines a resolution of censure to serve as a formal reprimand in an open and public meeting.
“I am disappointed that an elected official would conduct himself in this way. His remarks were obviously racist, and this kind of negativity and intimidation could discourage youth from participating in city government in the future,” said Anzy McWha, a community member in attendance at the meeting.
At the next Escondido City Council meeting on Dec. 6th, members and supporters of EYC are expected to speak out against Morasco’s remarks and are calling on members of the community to come in person to support.
This resource is supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library in partnership with the California Department of Social Services and the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs as part of the Stop the Hate program. To report a hate incident or hate crime and get support, go to CA vs Hate.
