Grand Ole Opry power struggle over use of “racist” Confederate flag takes new twist
dailyrecord.co.ukA bitter power struggle at Scotland’s biggest country and western club over the use of the “racist” Confederate flag has taken a new twist.Members of the Grand Ole Opry in Glasgow voted through a ban on the use of the flag in November after it became a symbol of racism in the USA, leading to it being outlawed in several states.But after the victory for modernisers at an EGM, traditionalists who are hell-bent on bringing back the blue and red flag have now formed a “Democracy and Respect Group ‘ to force the return of a flag-folding ceremony that puts to controversial symbol in its centre.The new group has forced through a special general meeting for March 13, which will seek to overthrow the existing committee, which pushed for the removal of the offending flag from club ceremonies.A source said: “The EGM in November was a very close-run thing but it was thought that it would put the issue over the flag to bed once and for all.“But one group is determined that the Confederate flag is at the heart of the club’s identity because it has been there since the club opened more than 40 years ago.“They have said they don’t care if other members leave and that visitors refuse to come to club nights - they want the flag, come hell or high water and the meeting next month is all about that.“There is a real fear that bringing back something that has come to symbolise right wing extremism - and was closely associated with the Capitol riots in Washington in 2021 - could kill off the club.”A notice on the club’s private Facebook page, which was circulated to all members and forwarded to the Daily Record, announced the formation of the Democracy and Respect Group. Join the Daily Record's WhatsApp community here and get the latest
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