PARADES, PROCESSIONS AND PUBLIC DEMONSTRATIONS

Tupelo Code of Ordinances ch. 24, art. V

in effect

Tupelo Code of Ordinances § 24-101 Permit—Required; application; granting.

Sec. 24-101. - Permit—Required; application; granting. (a) It shall be unlawful to organize or hold, or to assist in organizing or holding, or to take part or participate in, any parade or procession or other public demonstration on the streets or other public ways of the city, unless a permit therefor has been secured from the chief of police. (b) To secure such permit, written application shall be made to the chief of police, setting forth the probable number of persons and vehicles which will be engaged in such parade, procession or other public demonstration, the purpose for which it is to be held or had, and the streets or other public ways over, along or in which it is desired to have or hold such parade, procession or other public demonstration. (c) The chief of police shall grant a written permit for such parade, procession or other public demonstration, prescribing the streets or other public ways which may be used therefor, unless he finds the conduct of the parade will unreasonably interfere with proper fire and police protection. (d) The chief of police in denying the application for a parade permit shall be empowered to authorize the conduct of the parade on a date, at a time, or over a route different from that named by the applicant. (Ord. of 7-12-79, § I)

Tupelo Code of Ordinances § 24-102 Same—Review of application upon a denial by chief of police.

Sec. 24-102. - Same—Review of application upon a denial by chief of police. If any application for a permit required by this article is denied, after the filing of a proper application therefor, the applicant shall have the right to have the mayor and board of aldermen consider the application immediately, and to pass on whether the requested permit should be issued or not, by filing with the city clerk a written request for a review of the action of the chief of police with respect to the application. Such review shall be held within twenty-four (24) hours after the filing of such request with the city clerk, and the applicant shall have the right to appear thereat and to present proof in support of the application for the permit. The mayor and board of aldermen shall, without delay, pass on the question of whether the permit should be issued or not, and should it be of the opinion that such permit should be issued, the same shall be issued forthwith. (Ord. of 7-12-79, § VI)

Tupelo Code of Ordinances § 24-103 Conduct of participants.

Sec. 24-103. - Conduct of participants. Participants in parades, processions or other public demonstrations subject to this article shall conduct themselves in the following manner: (1) All traffic directions at intersections along the route of march and direction of police officers shall be obeyed. (2) All persons covered by the permit shall adhere strictly to the designated route. (3) All persons covered by the permit must assemble at the prescribed area and accompany the march only on the sidewalks and/or streets designated and in formation. (Ord. of 7-12-79, § III)

Tupelo Code of Ordinances § 24-104 Public conduct during parades.

Sec. 24-104. - Public conduct during parades. (a) Interference. No person shall unreasonably hamper, obstruct or impede, or interfere with any parade or parade assembly or with any person or vehicle participating or used in a parade. (b) Driving through parades. No driver of a vehicle shall drive between the vehicles or persons comprising a parade when those vehicles or persons are in motion and are conspicuously designated as a parade. (Ord. of 7-12-79, § IV)

Tupelo Code of Ordinances § 24-105 Exemption.

Sec. 24-105. - Exemption. This article shall not apply to funeral processions. (Ord. of 7-12-79, § V)

Tupelo Code of Ordinances § 24-106 Violations; penalty.

Sec. 24-106. - Violations; penalty. (a) Any person found guilty of violating the provisions of this article shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished as provided in section 1-8 of this Code. (b) Since public and private property rights, civil rights, and the general welfare may be involved in the violation of this article, and since criminal proceedings may not be an adequate or effective remedy because of the multiplicity of prosecutions and the failure of such prosecutions to protect property and civil rights, city officials are hereby authorized, in addition to criminal proceedings, to seek injunctive relief against violators of this article and such injunctive relief may be sought against individuals and against organizations. (Ord. of 7-12-79, § VII)

Source: City of Tupelo, Mississippi, Code of Ordinances and Development Code (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/ms/tupelo/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH24STSIPUPL_ARTVPAPRPUDEFetched: 11/1/2026