Petition Wants Confederate Railroad to Perform in Hudson Valley
Many are voicing their displeasure after a Grammy-nominated band's free concert in the Hudson Valley was canceled over allegations of racism.
Last week, a Change.org petition was formed asking for Confederate Railroad's concert at the Ulster County Fair be canceled. Residents wanted the band to be dropped over allegations their name is racist.
Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan also asked the Ulster County Agricultural Society to cancel the band's performance in Ulster County.
On Thursday, Confederate Railroad was officially dropped from a second fair due to its controversial name.
“The Ulster County Fair must be an event that everyone can enjoy while representing the values of all members of our community. Any showcasing of a symbol of division and racism runs counter to that principle and will be vigorously opposed by my administration. We are proud that we have come up with a solution addressing the concerns of many while still providing high-quality entertainment. Stay tuned, we are really excited about the act that will be headlining the fair Thursday night and that we will be announcing shortly," Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan said to Hudson Valley Post in an email.
Following the news, another Change.org petition was "created to stand in solidarity with Confederate Railroad and their right to perform at the Ulster County Fair."
Samuel Considine started the petition. As of this writing, it has over 2,000 signatures. You can read his post below:
I’m a lifelong Ulster County resident and Ulster County Fair attendee. While I don’t agree with the use of the confederate flag nor do I support the confederacy, it is appalling that County Executive Pat Ryan removed Confederate Railroad from the lineup of the Ulster County Fair. We are entering dangerous territory when artists deemed offensive by the government can be banned from performing at public events.
Therefore, this petition has been created to stand in solidarity with Confederate Railroad and their right to perform at the Ulster County Fair. We the undersigned are also calling for Craig Morgan, Little Texas, and Fran Cosmos to cancel their performances at the Ulster County Fair to stand in solidarity with Confederate Railroad. After all, if one band can be banned from performing today they may be the next act that is not welcome to perform.
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