The Mormon Tabernacle Choir is scheduled to perform at Donald Trump’s inauguration, but one member decided to quit the group rather than sing for the new president.
Jan Chamberlin sent a resignation letter to the choir’s president this week, suggesting the group would lose its reputation by performing at the event.
Chamberlin submitted her resignation “with a sad and heavy heart,” she told friends and family when she posted the letter on her Facebook page. “I’m praying that Jesus will help me get through this email before I totally break down.”
She argued she “could never ‘throw roses to Hitler.’ And I certainly could never sing for him.”
Chamberlin further stated that the Mormon Tabernacle Choir performing at Trump’s inauguration would indicate it “is endorsing tyranny and fascism by singing for this man.” She said she felt “betrayed” by the choir’s participation and that by performing, “I could never look myself in the mirror again with self-respect.”
The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City sponsors the choir. Church spokesman Eric Hawkins told the Salt Lake Tribune performances and participation at the inauguration by choir members are voluntary. Church leaders report about 215 of 360 members are expected to perform.
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir has performed at the inaugurations of George H. W. Bush in 1989 and Richard Nixon in 1969. The choir also participated in inaugural parades for George H. W. Bush, George W. Bush, and Ronald Reagan.
A dancer with the Rockettes previously protested the dance group’s appearance at the inauguration. The Madison Square Garden Company, operators of the Rockettes, stated the dancers are not required to perform.
While the two groups, along with 16-year-old “America’s Got Talent” star Jackie Evancho, were announced by the inaugural committee as performers, many celebrities have said they would not perform, though it is not known if they were invited.
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