(San Francisco, CA) -- The first meeting with the new president of the San Francisco School Board started without the Pledge of Allegiance. Stevon Cook broke with tradition on Tuesday night by reading a quote from a poem by Maya Angelou.
The state's education code does not require school board meetings to recite the pledge. Instead, Cook plans to start future meetings with quotes from Americans who he finds inspirational.
He says in today's political climate where the Trump administration is "attacking our liberties," he rather find other ways to express appreciation for the United States.