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The Nation Music Affiliation has banned all Accomplice flags and Accomplice “flag imagery of any form” at its upcoming competition for the primary time.
The four-day CMA Fest in Nashville, one of many largest of its form within the nation, might be held June 9-12 after a two-year suspension because of the COVID pandemic
Barring the Accomplice flag was a part of the CMA’s up to date coverage to guard the security of followers, the group mentioned in a press release to the Tennessean newspaper.
“This yr’s CMA Fest is our first main fan-facing occasion in practically three years. We now have all the time had insurance policies in place that defend the security of our followers and ban discrimination, however we felt it was necessary to additional refine our language to explicitly define what is going to and won’t be tolerated,” the assertion mentioned.
The assertion didn’t go into element about questions of safety in regards to the flag, however the battle flags may be be intimidating and infuriating, and a flashpoint for battle and violence.
“Our occasion coverage … states any conduct that causes one among our attendees to worry for his or her private security won’t be tolerated, and that’s inclusive of any shows of the Accomplice flag,” the assertion mentioned.
The transfer comes amid rising criticism of shows of the flag and of Accomplice monuments.
The flag has been considered previously as a logo of the Southern roots of nation music with little sensitivity concerning the Confederacy’s battle to protect slavery. However that acceptance of racist emblems has modified as extra artists of colour have grow to be concerned within the style, and as artists and trade leaders push for racial equality in nation music.
Luke Combs, who might be performing on the CMA Fest, apologized final yr for performing in entrance of Accomplice flags in 2015 and with images that includes the flag.
“There isn’t any excuse for these photographs,” Combs mentioned on Nationwide Public Radio. “As a youthful man, that was a picture that I related to imply one thing else. I’m now conscious how painful that picture may be to another person.”
Combs added: “I would like folks to really feel welcomed by nation music and by our group. On the time that these photographs existed, I wasn’t conscious what that was portraying to the world and to African American artists in Nashville that have been saying, ‘Man, I actually need to are available and get a deal and do that factor, however how can I be round with these photographs being promoted?’ And so I do apologize for that.”
The flag has lengthy been banned at a number of different festivals and occasions.
“Nobody ought to really feel uncomfortable once they come to a NASCAR race. So it begins with Accomplice flags. Get them out of right here,” NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace informed Nationwide Public Radio after the affiliation banned the flags in 2020.
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