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A Southern rock band called Confederate Railroad is retaliating after being prevented from performing at an upcoming national fair in Illinois on its name and its use of the Confederate flag.
Formed in 1987 in Atlanta, Georgia, the Confederate Railroad was summoned to the Du Quoin State Fair on August 27 in Du Quoin, as part of the "90th Country ReLoaded Day," reported the New York Post. for the first time, citing local media. .
In a statement to Fox News, the group confirmed that they had been removed from the show by the Illinois Department of Agriculture because of the band's name.
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"It was very disappointing, because we had already played at this fair and we enjoyed it a lot," reads the long statement of lead singer Danny Shirley. "The wave of support from Confederate Railroad fans, fans of other acts and the general public has been both overwhelming and highly appreciated. I would also like to thank the actors, the athletes and the other country music artists who have expressed their support. "
The statement goes on: "Live concerts are the way we pay our bills and feed our families. I would never want to see another act lose a payday because of that. If you like, go out to listen to these two big groups. As I have said many times on the stage, I am by no means a saint, but I am a man of faith and I am convinced that God will see us through this and all that will follow! "Shirley wrote.
Rusty Hendrix, Danny Shirley, Mark Dufresne, Confederate Railroad's Wayne Secrest and Bobby Randall perform at the Fremont Street Experience at the 2014 Downtown Hoedown on December 3, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Mindy Small / FilmMagic)
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The group's response came after the fair's director, Josh Gross, had addressed the issue of canceling their performance in a statement released to the weekly Du Quoin Weekly, Southern Illinoisan reported. .
"The Illinois Department of Agriculture has removed the Confederate Railroad from our 2019 Du Quoin State Fair lineup," Gross said. "Although every artist has the right to express himself, we believe that this decision is in the interest of serving all the inhabitants of our state."
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According to the New York Post, the Southern Illinois Department of Agriculture refused to do an iterative when the group was initially booked.
Another musician and country music legend, Charlie Daniels, was one of many to express his dissatisfaction with the decision of the state fair to remove the rock band, write in a tweet on July 5, "this politically correct affair is totally out of control."
An unspecified photo of the Confederate Railroad country rock band. (Photo by Beth Gwinn / Redferns)
(Getty Images)
"When a fair cancels the Confederate Railroad Band because of its name, it yields to fascism [sic]clear and simple and our freedom disappears piece by piece. I'm fed up, read the tweet.
A Facebook group has since been created during the group's processing and had gathered nearly 2,800 members as of Tuesday.
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Oak Ridge Boys member Joe Bonsall is annoyed by the cancellation of the Confederate Railroad. He summoned the man upstairs to help him overcome his disbelief.
"I've been playing @DuQuoinFair several times over the decades … However, I must say that the cancellation of @ConfederateRR JUST because their name is CONFEDERATE RAILROAD is a hell of a mess !!! They are good men who sing good songs … God, help us please … "wrote the singer and banjo player who provided a local newspaper clipping detailing the ban.
However, fans of Confederate Railroad have not lost sight, as Southern Illinoisan reported that other venues in the area are trying to book the rock and country band for a make-up show.
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"For me, it's not about getting people to our company. If anyone else in southern Illinois eventually brings them, I will not be angry. It's southern Illinois that has proven its point of view, said Joe McKinney, head of entertainment activities instead of the local Field of Dreams event, at the press briefing.
"This choice was made by a few privileged people in the North who take offense, instead of what the majority wants, and the group was completely disrespected."
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