![Deontay Wilder Named Grand Marshal For Juneteenth Parade](http://townsquare.media/site/531/files/2022/05/attachment-IMG_4136.HEIC_-e1653509763981.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Deontay Wilder Named Grand Marshal For Juneteenth Parade
The Tuscaloosa branch of the NAACP recently made a huge announcement involving Heavyweight Champion Deontay Wilder.
Saturday, June 18th, the Tuscaloosa branch of the NAACP and the Black Heritage Festival will host the city's first Juneteenth Parade. The announcement was recently made that Tuscaloosa native Deontay Wilder will serve as the Grand Marshal for the parade.
The parade will begin at Westlawn Middle School at 10 a.m. and end at the McDonald Hughes Center.
During a recent interview with Townsquare Media's DreDay, the Event Planner for Tuscaloosa's Juneteenth events Sonya McKinstry spoke on the opportunity to have Wilder in the parade.
"How fitting is that for Deontay to lead us in our first Juneteenth parade in Tuscaloosa? He's excited, I'm excited, we're all excited," McKinstry said.
"Deontay exemplifies everything that we want for our little black girls' and boys' success. We're so proud of him," said Lisa Young, President of the Tuscaloosa County branch of the NAACP.
Wilder recently received a huge honor in his hometown of Tuscaloosa. Last month, Deontay Wilder was honored at the Tuscaloosa Tourism & Sports office with the unveiling of a full-size bronze statue of the Heavyweight champion.
![Tuscaloosa Thread logo](http://townsquare.media/site/993/files/2020/07/512-1.jpg?w=100)
In a post on his Instagram page, Wilder posted about receiving a statue in his hometown.
The post featured a caption saying, "I received my flowers while I’m well alive Amen"
The first Juneteenth parade in Tuscaloosa will take place on June 18th, beginning at Westlawn Middle School. The lineup is at 9 a.m. and the parade kicks off at 10 a.m.
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