CHATTANOOGA — The Unity Group secured clearance for the Juneteenth National Freedom Day Parade in Chattanooga after resolving issues with city officials on June 11, 2026. The parade is scheduled to take place on Friday, June 19, 2026. The group's representatives met with City of Chattanooga officials, including Mayor Kelly and senior advisor Chris Anderson, to address concerns about the parade's organization.

As a result, a revised participation agreement will be implemented for future parades. This agreement will require participants to submit a hold harmless agreement to satisfy risk management requirements.

The Juneteenth National Freedom Day Parade route will follow East Martin Luther King Boulevard. The boulevard will be closed to vehicles from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on the day of the event. Pedestrian access along the closed route will be maintained during this time, except in emergencies. Unity Group representative Eric Atkins said, "After our discussions, we believe we have reached a consensus that the City believes that both parades represent our shared beliefs and common bonds and greatly adds to the cultural landscape of our City."

No independent assessment was available for this report.