During Tuesday’s city council meeting in Pella, Melissa Brown introduced herself as a city employee with two children who are also city employees.
“I don’t usually speak, I’m going to get emotional, but I asked God to shut my mouth or give me the words to say,” she said. “Unfortunately, He did not shut my mouth.”
Brown said Pella was founded by religious dissenters.
“And it’s called Pella because it’s in God our hope and refuge,” she said. “And today I’m looking for the Daniels on our city council, the ones who refuse to bow down to this. Who is going to dare to be a Daniel? Because whatever we tolerate today we will be judged for one day.”
Brown said she could not guarantee she, her children and other parents of lifeguards will not make them walk out on Wednesday.