CMA Fest bans Confederate flags and imagery for 1st time: It 'will not be tolerated'
The CMA Festival has banned Confederate flags and imagery.
The four-day event, which takes place June 9 to 12 in Nashville, brings country music's biggest stars.
But — for the first time — there is a ban on "Confederate flag imagery of any kind" on festival grounds, according to the event's prohibited items list.
It states Confederate flag imagery "will NOT be permitted at any CMA Fest location,"
as it's widely viewed as a symbol of racism, slavery and segregation in the U.S.
Those who show up at the event, which typically draws about 50,000 country music fans,
displaying it could be refused admittance without refund of admission.
A rep for the festival has not yet responded to request for comment, but told the Tennessean:
"This year’s CMA Fest is our first major fan-facing event in nearly three years.