A school district in Elmore County, Alabama has changed its mind and will now allow a high school band to play "Amazing Grace" at football halftime show.
Superintendent Dr. Andre Harrison of the Elmore County School District earlier removed the song from the halftime show of the Holtville High School Marching Band after he received a complaint, WSFA 12 News reports.
However, parents protested the move. In a Facebook post, Harrison later said they were studying the issue.
"While I firmly believe the original decision is both legally and ethically appropriate, we are working closely with legal counsel to determine if there are other options available to us that will permit performance of 'Amazing Grace,'" he said, promising that he was working "collaboratively with our board and legal counsel with the goal of a positive outcome for our students."
On July 24, he announced that he was reversing his earlier decision.
Harrison said the issue arose when the school district received a complaint about the band playing "Amazing Grace" during a football halftime show.
He said the same person called the central office twice to question the constitutionality of the band performing the song.
"After consulting with legal counsel and receiving an admittedly conservative recommendation, I made the decision to remove the song from the halftime show," he said, admitting that he had reservations about his decision.
He asked the district's lawyer to research on the issue and present him with options that will permit the performance of "one of the most iconic songs in the history of our nation."
"Based on that additional research, I have decided today that the band will be allowed to perform 'Amazing Grace' this fall," he said.
