Feb. 21, 2021 a man drove his large car, and SUV, into the back of a Christmas parade as the groups were walking, dancing a marching down the street. The driver purposely aimed his van at the people in front of him, running them down, killing some, maiming others. Results: 6 dead, and 62 injured. I have friends in Waukesha, and was invited to a big meal a few days later. I was shocked then to hear that they had planned to go to that parade, but one of the group had a stomach ache, and they stayed home instead. 3 cheers for stomach u[sets.
Most killed were elderly, particularly a number of a group Dancing Grannies. (also murdered, a 5-y-o boy). This was a rare event. New Orleans has many parades, and a male group invited the Dancing Grannies to march in a NO Mardi Gras parade, which ends in the French Quarter. The Waukesha grannies paraded in NO several times.
New Year's Eve 2024-25, there was no official parade in the French Quarter, just the mass of people there to drink and celebrate the coming New Year. It was well after midnight, after 3am, the crowd had thinned, tho their speech may have thickened after many drinks. Then the maniacal driver seeks to mow them down with his vehicle, his rifle, and his explosives. His objective is to separate believers from non-believers. I only hope there are not many believers like him! He killed 15, wounded 30+.
What is strange is that this method of terrorism is still rather rare in America. I was born and raised in New Orleans, lived there until about 30, and now reside in the city of which Waukesha is the suburb. One hopes the terrorists will stop this - people are not grass to be mowed and slaughtered. I hope NO can return to Mardi Gras parades, jazz funeral parades, engagement parades, and just parades for fun, and Waukesha can have happy Christmas parades hereafter.---Hugh Murray
