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Mormon Tabernacle Choir singer quits over Trump inauguration

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ASSOCIATED PRESS

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints performed at the morning session of the two-day Mormon church conference in Salt Lake City on Oct. 1.

SALT LAKE CITY >> A member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir said she has resigned from the famed group over its decision to perform at next month’s inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump.

Jan Chamberlin posted her resignation letter to choir leaders on her Facebook page Thursday. In it, she writes that by performing at the Jan. 20 inaugural, the 360-member choir will appear to be “endorsing tyranny and fascism.” She says she feels betrayed by the choir’s decision to take part.

The choir is part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Church spokesman Eric Hawkins told The Salt Lake Tribune (http://bit.ly/2ieSfXG ) that participation in the choir and the inaugural performance is voluntary.

Hawkins said last week the choir’s tradition of presidential performances isn’t “implied support of party affiliations or politics” but a “demonstration of our support for freedom, civility and the peaceful transition of power.”

Chamberlin’s decision earned praise from one of the most powerful Mormons in the country: Nevada Sen. Harry Reid.

The retiring Democrat said Friday in a statement to the Tribune that he admires people like Chamberlin who “reject tyranny and fascism and do what they can to stand up for what is right.”

Reid applauded her for refusing to “be part of the wave of hatred unleashed by Donald Trump.”

“She should not be castigated or repudiated for acting on her sincere beliefs,” Reid said.

Chamberlin, who didn’t respond to Tribune requests for interviews, wrote on Facebook that her decision was a moral one.

“I could never ‘throw roses to Hitler,’” she wrote. “And I certainly could never sing for him.”

56 responses to “Mormon Tabernacle Choir singer quits over Trump inauguration”

  1. Keonigohan says:

    “earned praise from one of the most powerful Mormons in the country: Nevada Sen. Harry Reid.”

    LOL

  2. 64hoo says:

    who cares, why make such a big news over this, the AP is really losing it.

  3. Marauders_1959 says:

    I have two words for her:
    Bye-Bye !

    The next bus to Canada leaves in the morning.
    Be on it with a one-way ticket !

    You too Mr. “most powerful Mormons in the country”

  4. latenightroach says:

    Apparently anything anti-Trump is hot news according to the AP. One person from a 360 member Mormon choir? Really? What a joke.

  5. CEI says:

    I’m assuming Ms. Chamberlin and “Dingy Harry” can back up the tyranny and racism charges with examples.

  6. purigorota says:

    So without her the choir is going to suck?

  7. copperwire9 says:

    Brave, honorable woman. I hope she doesn’t get death threats from the rabid faction of the right, but she probably will – or has already.

  8. kaupena says:

    I thought Mormons were all loving and all forgiving.

  9. 962042015 says:

    What would happen to a Choir member who quit over being asked to sing at a gay wedding!?!?!?

  10. americantaxpayer says:

    Instead of hurting Trump, all the AP is showing me is more “third grade behavior” and thinking from many on the left. If this happened 8 years ago, the AP would have been all over that person and calling them a racist. Glad I switched parties………

  11. lespark says:

    Harry Reid did the right thing. He retired. McCain next. They both are irrelevant.

  12. lespark says:

    Good riddance.

  13. HOSSANA says:

    Ignorance breeds ignorance!!! I hope she takes the next plane and moves to another country. Why the hell do we have to put up with idiots and does the new media give credence to such sensationalism…one member of 360 choir quits and its big news……….WHO CARES!!! News media or the media, in general, really has it in for Trump……..WHO CARES!!

  14. willman says:

    No big deal here. Who cares about the Mormon Tabernacle choir. Wasn’t it just a few years ago that the Mormons discriminated against African Americans ?
    Besides the Mormon Tabernacle Choir is a joke and the LDS members are out of touch with the real world.

    • rover says:

      Wow! Such negative thoughts (comments)~ For whatever Harry, John or Jan’s reason(s)maybe, they are FREE to make/speak their piece as well as you all. (I wonder what ESPN will be showing on Thursday ~ January 20 2017 at 7:00am HST)…Wish you all a Joyous New Year (2017)!

    • Mr Mililani says:

      They also spent millions in California against an equal rights amendment for gay people. It backfired against the church and hopefully taught them a lesson to stay out of politics but their singing at the inauguration only proves that they are slow learners.
      Maybe they’ll get the message. The Catholic church which has lost many of their faithful thanks to their pedophile priests and bishops sexually molesting innocent little boys has learned the hard way.

    • Carang_da_buggahz says:

      1977 was more than a “few” years ago.

  15. bumbye says:

    Itʻs up to her to quit, but it doesnʻt have to make the news.

  16. ConsiderThis says:

    We better go to helpjannow.com

  17. klastri says:

    The story here of course is that the inauguration committee hasn’t been able to get any talent to perform. They ended up with a second place winner from a TV talent show, some of the Rockettes (who believe they are being forced against their will to perform) and the MTC. Everyone else they asked said no.

    Mr. Trump is a racist and a bigot. The many, many folks who have refused to perform don’t want to seem like they are endorsing a psychotic. Who could blame them?

  18. seaborn says:

    It’s going to be the HUGEST lame inauguration ever. Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Rockettes, and some game show winner are the headlining entertainment.. that is both pitiful and hilarious! Enjoy watching that train wreck pageantry, Repubs, if you can stay awake through the boredom. What a total fail. LOLOLOL

  19. blackmurano says:

    It no surprise that this Mormon choir person dropped out of performing at President-elect Inauguration ceremony. She calls Donald Trump a type of “Hitler.” It’s no surprosie because Mormons believe in another Jesus and not the same one true God in the Holy Bible.
    This Mormon does not know what separates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. Hillery belongs to a progressive Democratic party that pure secular, liberal and of course Atheist. Their party doctrine is all anti-Christian with their homosexual marriage and abortion – taking the life of live unborn in his/her mother’s womb.
    The Reverend Franklin Graham son of Billy Graham the Christian evangelist visted all 50 states where thousands of Christian heard Franklin Graham to come out and vote for the candidate that supports our Godly Christian values. To pray that Donald Trump will be elected as our next President. During Franklyn visit to Hawaii over 6,000 showed up at the State capitol.
    During 2012 Presidential election, 32 million Christian stayed home and did not vote. This election, 82 percent of Evangelical Christians voted for Donald Trump.
    How can this Mormon call Donald Trump like a Hitler when he supports God’s covenant of marriage between one man and one woman, and support the unborn from being terminated. Hillary and the Democratic party not only supports abortion but they support taking a life of the unborn when that baby is ready to be removed from the mother’s womb at nine months.

  20. NahokuIIwebguy says:

    Psh, another juvenile Libtard. I wonder if she’d want some cheese with that whine…?

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