Some people in Cookeville are raising money for their own all-inclusive parade after hearing some people might not be welcome at the original.
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The 2024 Cookeville Christmas Parade has new organizers and anyone who wants to have a float has to sign a statement of faith.
Every year, families have gathered to watch and participate in the annual Cookeville Christmas Parade hosted by the Chamber of Commerce. But this year, the Chamber backed out after a debate about control of the event.
“While the Chamber has been involved in the organization of the Christmas Parade in years past, we chose not to participate this year when it became evident after last year’s parade committee vote that we were not in control of certain aspects of the event,” a representative with the Cookeville Chamber of Commerce told News 2.
However, this year a new group has taken the reins. That group has required all float applicants agree to their statement of faith.
“One of my friends here at a local bakery ended up going through the application process and then once they got to the statement of faith they were shocked,” Cookeville resident Antonio Pedro explained.
“The City had nothing to do with the handoff to this group and still has nothing to do with the production or operation of the Christmas parade,” the City of Cookeville said in a statement. “The private group simply applied for a temporary street closure for a parade, as any other private group is permitted to do and as any kind of parade-type event requires.”
The private group, sponsored by local churches, outlined in their application the belief in one God, that God created marriage solely between the male and female sex and the belief that human life starts at conception.
These rules come a year after Upper Cumberland Pride (UCP) was excluded from the last Christmas parade. The UCP told News 2, in part:
“Last year UCP filled out an application for the parade and was accepted…When our representative arrived they were pulled aside after going to check in on the list and informed that due to the parade being ran through the Chamber there was a parade board who had that very week voted on whether or not we would be allowed to participate and they voted no. It was stated when asked why, that they saw it as ‘a kid/family event [and] that we might not be kid/family friendly,’…In an email the Chamber informed us that they had 4 members on the board who voted against refusing UCP but that the majority had won.”
This year, some people in Cookeville are raising money for their own all-inclusive parade after hearing some people might not be welcome at the original.
“It was overwhelming the support that we got,” GoFundMe creator, Montana Chambers, said. “[We] achieved our goal in a matter of just one day. Just one day! That’s how incredible our community is.”
“To get the Christmas parade to what it once was to where the community comes together as a community and not just a religion,” Pedro said.
“Discrimination against ANY group of people is the antithesis of what Jesus taught,” UCP said in a statement. “The Bible says to love one another, and do no harm. This is intentional harm, and unacceptable. We hope that our core mission of inclusion, equality, and love spread through the hearts and minds of those in control, and that they find clarity and peace with those they view as ‘unworthy’.”
News 2 reached out to the private parties now hosting the original parade for comment. At the time of publication, there has not been a response.