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Hours after terror attack, New Yorkers come together at Halloween Parade
After a terrorist drove a truck onto a bike bath in downtown Manhattan yesterday, killing at least 8 people and injuring dozens others, New Yorkers responded in the only way they know how: keep on livin’.
There was some speculation that the annual Halloween Parade, which runs down 6th avenue in the West Village, would be cancelled just hours after a terror attack, but in typical New York fashion, the show went on.
Lois Beckett, a reporter for the Guardian US, was at the parade and asked attendees why they chose to come out to celebrate despite the day’s events.
This was the parade a couple hours after the attack
Two hours after city officials announce a terror attack, New Yorkers and visitors are lining up to march in the Village Haloween parade. pic.twitter.com/TYaEGmIIua
— Lois Beckett (@loisbeckett) October 31, 2017
These chickens ain’t scared
"The police took care of the attack," said Marc Cruz, 28, who is dressed as a chicken, saying he feels "pretty safe." pic.twitter.com/9YglFp4e3L
— Lois Beckett (@loisbeckett) October 31, 2017
Hours after a terror attack, I keep interviewing New Yorkers dressed as chickens who say they are not afraid. pic.twitter.com/UmJosEdXdc
— Lois Beckett (@loisbeckett) November 1, 2017
Nemo isn’t gonna let terrorists stop him from thriving
"I'm not going to let terrorist stop my life…they're not going to win," says New Yorker Alex Tutino, 20, who is dressed as "Finding Nemo." pic.twitter.com/JoKhNFTfsC
— Lois Beckett (@loisbeckett) October 31, 2017
‘We love being who we are’
"We love being who we are," says New Yorker Rick Treese, who is dressed as King Kong climbing the Empire State building. pic.twitter.com/BVmKJQdnR5
— Lois Beckett (@loisbeckett) November 1, 2017
Shoutout Alexandra
"So many people were telling me not to come. I said, 'You have to live your life.'" Alexandra Colon, who watched WTC fall from NJ in 2001. pic.twitter.com/VjC5vfPDVd
— Lois Beckett (@loisbeckett) October 31, 2017
New Yorkers keep on living
"To be honest with you, there's a tragedy every day somewhere in the world, & we have to continue living" says Windy Vargas, with her kids. pic.twitter.com/RSLIzPX7dK
— Lois Beckett (@loisbeckett) October 31, 2017
This is a classic response from New Yorkers in the face of terror. Once people start adjusting their ways of life in order to avoid that possibility of an attack or violence, the terrorists win.
It’s a beautiful thing to see New York stand up to those who threaten our city and show that nothing will stop us from doing us.
Not only is this a direct response to terrorism, but New Yorkers also showed the rest of the country how to deal with tragedy and an attack on our people.
While certain factions of the country will respond to terrorism by claiming that we need to prevent people from certain countries or religions from coming to America, the real American reaction to terrorism is to simply show that we won’t be scared into reactionist and xenophobic policies.
Just New Yorkers being New Yorkers.