Extra police expected downtown for MU homecoming parade; university says no entries for parade were denied this year

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The City of Columbia said public safety is a top priority as the University of Missouri’s homecoming parade is set to begin at 9 a.m. Saturday.

According to city spokesman Christopher Ave, Columbia police will increase their presence downtown during the parade.

"The Columbia Police Department plans to call in officers on overtime and to shift some officers from other parts of the city to provide expanded staffing downtown this weekend," Ave wrote in an email.

During last year’s Homecoming weekend, a woman was shot and killed in downtown Columbia. Since then, the city and university have taken several steps aimed at improving safety downtown.

According to the Mizzou Alumni Association, the parade will begin at the intersection of Tiger Avenue and Rollins Street. Participants will travel along Hitt Street, University Avenue, Ninth Street and Broadway before ending at Cherry Street.

This year’s theme is “Celebrating Black and Gold.”

“We are actively preparing for the Homecoming Parade and are working closely with the City of Columbia and Missouri State Highway Patrol to support a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone,” University spokesman Travis Zimpfer said in an email.

The university is also warning attendees and drivers to expect traffic delays during the parade.

Zimpfer said no parade entries were denied this year, and the university will not release the preliminary roster for the groups that will participate Saturday.

Last year, the university was required to release its parade entry list after Mizzou Students for Justice in Palestine sued MU President Mun Choi.

According to court documents, 10 organizations were not approved to participate last year. The parade included 28 invited guests, 15 sponsors, 26 community organizations and 43 student organizations. Seven bands also participated, while two groups withdrew their applications.

The university said the 10 denied entries that year were rejected for several reasons, including safety concerns, failing to explain how the entry supported the parade’s theme and missed payment deadlines.

Choi continues to face a legal battle involving MSJP.

The group was removed from last year’s Homecoming parade and later argued that the university violated its First Amendment rights by preventing it from participating.

The university said the decision was based on safety concerns. At the time, officials pointed to disturbances involving Students for Justice in Palestine demonstrations at other colleges across the country.

A federal judge later ordered Mizzou to allow the group to participate in the 2025 Homecoming parade, as long as it followed the university’s updated parade policies.

Last week, both sides presented oral arguments in the case.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations is representing MSJP and argues that the university violated the group’s free speech rights.

The university is asking an appeals court to overturn several lower-court decisions, including the ruling that allowed SJP to participate in last year’s parade and the finding that the university violated the group’s First Amendment rights.

Mizzou’s homecoming football game against the Florida Gators will kick off at 2:30 p.m. Saturday.