New MU Homecoming parade policy bans political groups

The University of Missouri has updated its Homecoming Day parade policy to exclude political expression.

The new policy allows only approved participants and denies participation of organizations that don’t adhere to the parade’s theme of “Black and Gold.”

The updated policy outlines the parade’s values and celebratory nature stating, “the purpose of the Homecoming Parade is to celebrate Mizzou and its supporters. It is not a venue for protests.”

“In making these changes, we sought to modernize the Homecoming Parade to better reflect its purpose and to right-size the event,” Christopher Ave, Mizzou’s director of media relations and public affairs, said in an email.

“The length of the event was becoming problematic, and closing streets on a game day in Columbia is a challenge,” he sai