Wisconsin parade news – latest: Two Illinois cities boost security ahead of 134th Christmas procession

The Wisconsin city of Waukesha is still in shock after a car ploughed into a Christmas parade at high speed at 4.39pm on Sunday, killing at least six people and injuring 48 more.

The red Ford Escape SUV was captured on video driving straight towards marching cheerleaders and band members at around 40mph, hitting around 20 people and causing the crowd that had assembled to enjoy the 58th Annual Waukesha Holiday Parade to disperse in panic.

As Joe Sommerlad writes, witnesses on Sunday described the car as having accelerated along the parade route and “going from side to side, targeting people”.

Five teammates of an 11-year-old, Yaretzi Becerra-Montes, are still in an ICU over Thanksgiving weekend, according to her family.

The dancer had been taking part in the Waukesha Christmas parade for several years before the tragedy on Sunday, and “really loves dancing”, her sister told ABC7.

“She’s like, ‘I can’t laugh right now,’ she’s like, ‘It hurts,’ or even just walking her entire bottom half is completely bruised,” said her sister Ketzally Becerra-Montes.

According to the report, five of Yaretzi’s dancing team remain in an ICU, and her family have meanwhile created a GoFundMe page, which has been shared online.

There have been six confirmed deaths since the SUV was allegedly driven by 39-year-old Darrell Brooks into the Christmas parade in Wisconsin.

As Alisha Rahaman Sarkar writes, three of them were affiliated with a dancing group for older women called the “Milwaukee Dancing Grannies”.

“Our group was doing what they loved, performing in front of crowds in a parade putting smiles on faces of all ages, filling them with joy and happiness,” the group said in a Facebook post on Monday.

A spokesperson for GoFundMe confirmed that a fundraiser for Darrell Brooks had broken its terms and conditions, and that it had been pulled.

James Norton, who claimed to be a friend of his, allegedly started the fundraiser, and as Law Enforcement Today reported, had a target of $5m (£3.7m) in aid of freeing him.

As Gino Spocchia writes, GoFundME told reporters that “Fundraisers with misuse are very rare, and we take all complaints very seriously,” and the person behind the Brooks fundraiser has been banned from the platform.

The page was last visible on Tuesday, screenshots on social media suggest.

The city of Galesburg, in Illinois, is reportedly taking extra precautions ahead of a Christmas parade on 5 December, following the attack on the Waukesha, Wisconsin, parade last weekend.

The Register-Mail reported that there will be an enhanced police presence with uniformed officers at every intersection, and the parade route will be barricaded.

The report said police vehicles will also lead and end the parade procession next weekend, to reduce the chances of a repeat of Waukesha, where six people were mowed down and dozens more injured by an SUV driver.

Many annual Christmas parades have been been able to take place during the Covid pandemic for the first time in recent weeks, and the city is among at least two to change its plans after Waukesha.

The day before Thanksgiving is traditionally one of the biggest days of revelry in America, but as Sheila Flynn writes, Waukesha locals on Wednesday were invited to collect items left behind in the chaos last weekend when an SUV driver mowed down dozens of parade-goers, killing six and injuring dozens more.

Instead of preparing festive meals, they were coming to pick up blankets. Thermos flasks. Children’s folding chairs decorated with teddy bears. Red Cross volunteers were manning the entrance.

A Christmas parade that claims to be the longest running in the US is taking place on Friday with enhanced security following the Waukesha attack.

Authorities in Peoria, Illinois, said ahead of the 134th annual Santa Claus Parade that the route would be shortened, and that those attending would see more police than expected previously.

Barricades and other safety measures will also be in place to prevent a repeat of the tragedy in Waukesha last weekend, when six people were killed and dozens more injured by an SUV.

The city of Peoria said a new parade route will see police vehicles blocking off access to the parade route from outside.

The city of Waukesha will hold a moment of silence on Sunday lead by the mayor, who has encouraged locals to light a blue lightbulb to “unite” the community following last weekend’s attack on the Christmas parade, which killed six people and injured dozens more.

The silence will take place at 4.39pm, the time 39-year-old Darrell Brooks is suspected to have driven through barricades and mowed down participants and attendees at the annual Christmas parade.

The city of Galesburg, in Illinois, is reportedly taking extra precautions ahead of a Christmas parade on 5 December, following the attack on the Waukesha, Wisconsin, parade last weekend.

Galesburg Police Chief Russ Idle told reporters: “The safety of the community is the top priority of the Galesburg Police Department.”

“While tragedy can unexpectedly strike in any circumstance, please rest assured that the police department makes every effort to provide for a controlled and safe environment in which the community can feel safe celebrating and enjoying the parade.”

As The Register-Mail  reported on Friday, there will be an enhanced police presence with uniformed officers at every intersection, and the parade route will be barricaded.

The report said police vehicles will also lead and end the parade procession next weekend, to reduce the chances of a repeat of Waukesha, where six people were mowed down and dozens more injured by an SUV driver.