Ban of ‘Dixie’ as fight song riles backers

ARAB,ALA.— The fight over Confederate symbolism has landed in an Alabama town where education leaders have banned the high school marching band from playing “Dixie” as the fight song.

Dozens of opponents of the decision packed a city school board meeting Thursday night in support of the tune, which they depict as a traditional part of the soundtrack of life in their small, Southern town rather than an ode to the days of slavery in the Old South.

“We’re from Alabama, we’re not from New York,” said Daniel Haynes, 36, who attended Arab High School and loves hearing the tune played after the Knights score a touchdown.

Board members didn’t budge.

The 750-student school has a new principal, band director, football coach and stadium this year, said Superintendent John Mullins, and the change was needed in a system where the core values include mutual respect and unity.

Supporters of the song say they’ll now take their complaints to the

City Council, which appoints the five-member school board, but it’s unclear what might happen next. An old R&B song, “The Horse,” has temporarily replaced “Dixie” in the band’s repertoire until a new fight song is selected.

Passions are running high among some in Arab, where many are still upset by school leaders’ decision a few years ago to comply with a Supreme Court decision and end student-led Christian prayers over the public address system before football games. Complaints about “Dixie” have renewed the debate over the role of religion in pregame ceremonies.

“I like ‘Dixie,’ but I’m here for prayer,” said Shane Alldredge, who attended the board meeting wearing a T-shirt that said “Put Dixie and prayer back in the game.”