Highland Park One Year After Parade Massacre
Highland Park One Year After Parade Massacre
This year, there were no marching bands at any of the events. Not even floats. There will be no church groups handing out goodies to the audience. There are not any American flags displayed along the walkways.
Instead, there were supplications offered. There was crying involved. And there was a solemn procession down Central Avenue, a group attempt to reclaim a parade route that had been taken by a hail of gunfire.
A charming procession that goes through downtown Highland Park, Illinois, has been synonymous with the Fourth of July over the course of several decades.
On the other hand, on the Fourth of July of this year, a lone gunman opened fire from a rooftop, killing seven people, wounding scores more, and sending families running for cover, leaving behind empty water bottles and red, white, and blue lawn chairs scattered across the ground.
As the first anniversary of the massacre drew near, the authorities of the city were confronted with a set of requests that appeared to be impossible to fulfil: Honour the people who had perished. Reclaim the route that the procession will go through the downtown area. Allow the citizens the opportunity to commemorate the nation’s birthday. And offer assistance to inhabitants of the Chicago suburb who are still suffering from the emotional and physical scars caused by the events of the previous year.
When there are incidents of mass shootings in our nation, “when there are mass shootings in this country, a day or two later, people move on,” said Mayor Nancy Rotering. “However, those communities that are directly affected are the ones that will carry this suffering and this trauma for the rest of their lives.”
On Tuesday, homeowners who were in the line of fire during last year’s Fourth of July celebration were among the hundreds who gathered on the lawn of City Hall for a ceremony to remember the day. Reminders of the massacre were everywhere, according to Jeffrey Briel, who remembered taking shelter with his young granddaughters not far from the attacker. He said the pock marks on the downtown plaza caused by bullets, as well as a makeshift memorial that currently rests opposite City Hall, were examples of this. He stated that Highland Park was still in a state of mourning.
“I want 2024 to be back to having a parade,” said Mr. Briel, who, like many others there, was wearing a cap that said “HP Strong.” “So, maybe doing this is a way of starting the healing process a little bit.”
When the march took place a year ago, Reverend Hernan Cuevas had only been in his position as pastor of a Roman Catholic parish in Highland Park for a few short days at that point. Mr. Cuevas had recruited members of the congregation to ride on the church float and purchased granola bars to distribute to parade-goers along the route. After that, he thought he heard fireworks in the distance.
He stated that it was not until they observed “a wave of people walking towards us, running, and crying” that they realised “these are not fireworks.” This is not some joke.'”
They ran a few streets to the church, where a mixture of churchgoers and members, some of whom had blood on their clothing, waited for many hours as the cops looked for the gunman. They recited the prayers of the rosary. They anxiously glanced at the news on the screens of their phones.
Mr. Cuevas stated that the members of his congregation had dealt with the traumatic events of that day in a variety of ways, and as a result, they had various views about how to celebrate the Fourth of July. Some people wanted things to get back to normal. Some people asked for privacy in order to grieve. Others decided to get away from the painful memories by leaving town for the holiday.
Mr. Cuevas commented on the occasion by saying, “It brings back again some of the memories.” “It brings up some of the negative feelings, such as fear and loss.”
On Tuesday, a number of locals expressed their sorrow and sadness with a sense of fury at the fact that the alleged shooter, a resident of the area who had previously caught the notice of the police, was allowed to purchase and use a weapon with a high rate of fire, according to the prosecutors. The defendant, identified as Robert E. Crimo III, is charged with 117 crimes, one of which is murder, although he has entered a not guilty plea.
Long before the shooting, the affluent and politically liberal city of Highland Park, which has a population of roughly 30,000 people and is located on a lakeside, was a centre of a national drive for stronger gun legislation. A court battle ensued as a result of the city’s decision to enact a municipal ban on some high-powered guns.
Following the deaths that occurred in Illinois in 2017, local politicians exerted pressure on the Democrats who controlled the state government to further limit the state’s already tough gun restrictions, which were already among the worst in the country. A bill that Governor J.B. Pritzker signed in January prohibiting the sale of certain types of high-powered guns has been challenged in court by advocates for the right to bear arms. The Democratic mayor of Rottering has voiced support for a countrywide ban on firearms of this type.
“Someone with a legally obtained weapon can choose to end the life of a large swath of a community,” she added. “This is a terrifying reality.” In my opinion, that constitutes a violation of human rights.On Tuesday morning, a large number of citizens participated in a rally at Highland Park, where many also donned shirts with messages demanding more stringent gun control measures.
When the shots were fired a year ago, Dani Cohn, a native of Highland Park, was with members of her family, including Jacquelyn Sundheim, and she was seated on a lawn chair outside a pancake house with them.
Ms. Cohn did not sustain any injuries, but Ms. Sundheim, also known as Jacki, was not so fortunate. Ms. Sundheim was the synagogue event coordinator of a local congregation, and she was murdered. Ms. Cohn recalls attempting to save her own life by practising cardiopulmonary resuscitation and getting supplies from an ambulance.
Ms. Cohn stated that it was crucial for her to be present at the commemorations that were held on Tuesday as well as to attend the demonstration in favour of tougher gun legislation that was organised by her sibling, Lexi.
Take some action!
“I am just kind of meeting myself where I’m at,” said Dani Cohn. “I don’t want to look back on the Fourth of July and remember it just as this tragedy. I want to keep this in mind and do something about it. Take some action!”
