Group formed to bring back Confederate flag to Glasgow's Grand Ole Opry after ban

A group has been launched by members of a country music club in Glasgow in an effort to bring back the use of the American Confederate flag following a ban.

Members of the Grand Ole Opry, on Govan Road, voted by 50 to 48 in November to maintain a ban on the use of the flag.

The Confederate flag is widely seen as a racist symbol as it celebrates the forces of the Confederacy, who fought to preserve slavery in the American Civil War.

The flag was previously used at the Grand Ole Opry during a flag-folding ceremony, called the American trilogy, which is done at the end of each club night.

The meeting takes place on Wednesday, March 13. Supplied

Following the ban, an emergency meeting was organised to address the split between members.

The ban was upheld following a secret ballot during the meeting.

However, members who want to bring back the flag have formed the “Democracy and Respect Group” in an effort to challenge the committee who enforced the ban.

The group has arranged a “special general meeting” for March 13, which will seek to overthrow the Grand Ole Opry’s existing committee.

The Confederate flag is widely seen as a racist symbol as it celebrates the forces of the Confederacy, who fought to preserve slavery in the American Civil War.

A notice on the club’s private Facebook page announced the formation of the “Democracy and Respect Group” and the subsequent vote.

The agenda for the meeting includes:

“Mismanagement, failures and unacceptable behaviour of Opry Committee members under the stewardship of current acting president”
Demand for resignation of the “illegally promoted” club president and other committee members
Election and installation of a new committee
Reversal of “unconstitutional” decisions taken by committee

The Grand Ole Opry has been contacted for comment.