NASHVILLE, TN (WSMV) -
When Tennessee State University announced plans to move its homecoming parade off historic Jefferson Street, plenty of people were upset.
But that frustration has been turned into something new this fall - a second event, intended just for the community.
The group organizing the event doesn't have a parade permit at this point, so it's not clear if it will turn out to be a parade or more of a march or rally. Either way, they say their goal is to include everyone and keep the tradition planted on Jefferson.
"We have a tradition on that street. You cannot let someone shut down a 50- or 60-year-old legacy, and nobody stands up for that legacy," said Kwame Leo Lillard, with the group Save TSU.
The annual TSU homecoming parade draws some 30,000 people to Nashville's north side, and for its centennial year TSU has decided to move the parade to a route on campus.
Officials are also limiting the number of entries and only allowing bands and floats - no walkers or motorcycles - in this year's festivities set for Sept. 28.
Save TSU plans to host its own event the week before the TSU parade, and Lillard said it will be more inclusive.
"We want the community to walk down Jefferson Street on the 22nd. It may not be a parade. We'd like to see people still playing horns, sort of like a New Orleans walking down parade - a promenade you might call it, a rally," he said.
TSU leaders point out they moved the parade largely for safety reasons, because roads are wider around campus and it would be easier to control crowds there in case of an emergency.
Last year, two people were shot near the parade route.
Carlos Tucker is a senior at TSU and said he supports the changes.
"It's a lot easier to patrol two blocks, versus nine or 10. So, I believe it will make it a lot better," Tucker said.
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