Madison Myers, Rickey Phillips and Joshua Myers march in the M.L. King Day parade on Monday, January 20, 2014, in Chattanooga, Tenn.The group that has hosted Chattanooga's M.L. King Day parade for decades won't participate this year, it says.
The city of Chattanooga is putting on the parade after the Unity Group declined to host it, city leaders said Saturday.
Late Sunday evening, Unity Group President Sherman Matthews sent a news release announcing the boycott and slamming the city for what he called a "governmental nuclear option to orchestrate a deliberate and hostile takeover of the MLK March and parade."
Matthews had ignored requests for comment Saturday when Mayor Andy Berke's spokeswoman, Lacie Stone, said the city would host the march after the Unity Group canceled.
Stone said Saturday the group had known since November that, for the first time, it needed to obtain liability insurance to get a parade permit. The group didn't provide the certificate until well into the week, she said, and the parade permit was issued Thursday.
Friday night, though, Matthews announced the parade had been canceled and blamed the city.
Stone said the city stepped up and made arrangements for the march route so the many community groups eager to take part wouldn't be disappointed. She said the Unity Group then declined to participate.
Information for parade marchers
PARKING: Marchers can park at any of the three parking lots of Ridgeview Baptist Church located at 6 N. Moore Road (two lots are connected to the church and one is located across the street behind McDonald's). The parking lots will be open at 1 PM. FOR GROUPS: If you have a large organization or need a space to march together, please plan to arrive at 1:45 PM. Look for the Fire Truck, which will be parked at Ridgeview Baptist Church. Check in at the Information Table to be assigned a space. FOR INDIVIDUAL MARCHERS: If you are interested in marching, please plan to arrive at 2:45 PM to begin to march at 3 PM. ROUTE: The route will remain as planned by the Unity Group, with lineup between Waffle House and Ridgeview Baptist Church. The March will begin at 3 PM at the intersection of North Moore Road and Brainerd Road. The March will proceed on North Moore Road to Brainerd High School. For a google map of the March route, click here. AFTER THE MARCH: The March will end in the parking lot of Brainerd High School, where participants are encouraged to attend the Main Event, hosted by the Unity Group. Following that event, there will be CARTA buses available to take people back to their vehicles. BUS SERVICE: CARTA bus service will be available for those who need assistance and wish to participate in the March. Bus service begins with boarding at 2:15 PM from Ridgeview Baptist Church. Buses return to Ridgeview Baptist Church from Brainerd High School at 7 PM after the Main Event. *Information provided by the city of Chattanooga