Maryland school band silences pro-Confederate state song

FILE- In this Jan. 21, 2013, file photo, The University of Maryland "Mighty Sound of Maryland" Marching Band performs during the 57th Presidential Inaugural Parade on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington. The marching band will at least temporarily stop playing the state's official song, which includes a reference to "Northern scum" and other pro-Confederate lyrics. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)(AP/Alex Brandon)

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — The University of Maryland marching band will at least temporarily stop playing the state’s official song, which includes a reference to “Northern scum” and other pro-Confederate lyrics.

University Spokeswoman Katie Lawson tells WTOP that school officials are suspending the playing of “Maryland, My Maryland” to “evaluate if it is consistent with the values” of the school. The marching band played the song during the pregame show for football games.

Asked for his opinion of the university’s decision at an unrelated event Monday, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan said he needs to learn more before he responds.

But Hogan did talk about the state song’s lyrics.

“There is one verse in that song which is pretty egregious,” said the Governor.

He also mentioned that the General Assembly considered making changes to “Maryland, My Maryland” in its last session.

“The legislature chose to do nothing about it, but I’m sure they’ll be discussing it again this year,” Hogan said.

The latest call for the song to be changed or replaced comes from the General Assembly’s Asian American and Pacific Islander Caucus.

“It’s really not an acceptable thing to have as your state song, something that refers to the U.S. Army as ‘Northern scum’, and President Lincoln as a ‘despot’ and a ‘tyrant’,” Delegate Kumar Barve, a Democrat from Montgomery County and member of the caucus told WTOP.

“Maryland, My Maryland” was written in 1861 by James Ryder Randall, who was despondent over the death of a friend shot while protesting Union troops in Baltimore.

Drum major Brian Starace tells The Baltimore Sun he supports the move, saying the song was never something he was “too proud to be playing.”

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