Inauguration choir member refuses to sing for Trump, quits  

Washington: A member of a famed choir group selected to perform at Donald Trump's inauguration has resigned, saying performing at the ceremony would be like endorsing "tyranny and fascism".

Jan Chamberlin, a member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, sent a resignation letter to the choir president, saying that she could never sing for Trump.

"I've tried to tell myself that it will be all right and that I can continue in good conscience before God and man," Chamberlin wrote in a Facebook post.

"I only know I could never 'throw roses to Hitler.' And I certainly could never sing for him," she said.

Chamberlin said she has concerns about the choir's reputation after performing at the inauguration.

"Looking from the outside in, it will appear that Choir is endorsing tyranny and fascism by singing for this man," she wrote.

"Tyranny is now on our doorstep; it has been sneaking its way into our lives through stealth. Now it will burst into our homes through storm," Chamberlin added.

The choir is part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Church spokesman Eric Hawkins told The Salt Lake Tribune that participation in the choir and the inaugural performance is voluntary.

Boris Epshteyn, a spokesman for Trump's inaugural festivities, was quoted by CNN as saying, "We're honoured to have the Mormon Tabernacle Choir perform in the 58th Inauguration, their sixth time participating in inaugural ceremonies, and we look forward to their uplifting performance."

Phoebe Pearl, a dancer with the Rockettes, reportedly had previously protested on Instagram about the group being chosen to perform at the event. Her post has since been deleted.

The Madison Square Garden Company, which operates the Rockettes, previously said the dancers would not be compelled, by MSG or their union, to perform at the January 20 inaugural festivities.

The committee for Trump's inauguration has not yet publicised any major celebrities performing at the event -- a change from the past two events.

The inaugural committee has announced The Rockettes, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and 16-year-old "America's Got Talent" star Jackie Evancho.

The choir previously sang at swearing-in ceremonies for George H W Bush (1989), Richard Nixon (1969) and Lyndon Johnson (1965). It performed in inaugural parades for George W Bush (2001), George H W Bush (1989) and Ronald Reagan (1981).

Democratic Senator Harry Reid, in a statement, said he admires and supports people like Jan who, "reject tyranny and fascism and do what they can to stand up for what is right."

PTI