MU student Palestine group barred from homecoming parade for second straight year for ‘safety concerns’
Ryan Shiner
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The University of Missouri has again declined an application submitted by Mizzou Students for Justice in Palestine that would have allowed the group to participate in this year’s homecoming parade.
A university spokesman wrote in an email on Friday that the group was declined participation because of “safety concerns.”
MSJP was barred from participating from last year’s parade for similarly cited reasons. Previous letters to the group issued by UM President Mun Choi cited disturbances at other campuses, as well as “actions of some MSJP members at Speakers Circle on Oct. 7,” previous reporting shows.
“Yes, the Mizzou Students for Justice in Palestine application to participate in the 2025 Homecoming Parade was not approved due to safety concerns for members of the organization and other homecoming participants,” university spokesman Travis Zimpfer wrote in an email to ABC 17 News. “Given the university’s commitment to the right to freedom of expression, the university has offered to provide another location on the day of Homecoming Parade for the group to share their perspectives.”
This comes as the university says it has updated its policy on what is accepted at the parade and a lawsuit was filed last month by CAIR — the largest Muslim civil rights organization in the country.
According to the policy, the purposes of the parade are to:
Celebrate MU’s traditions and accomplishments
Cultivate alumni connections
Honor University-selected achievements of MU students, personnel and alumni
Rally support and enthusiasm for the homecoming football game
The policy also reads:
“It is not an open forum for expression on topics identified by participants, but rather is limited to expression on topics identified by the University for the purposes noted above. The University provides ample other opportunities for participants to express themselves on topics of interest to them.”
Previous reporting indicates MSPJ argued that before the group’s application was denied for last year’s parade, the university asked the student group to not carry a banner reading “END THE GENOCIDE,” despite allowing fraternities to display “MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN” banners.
ABC 17 News has reached out to MSJP.