New York City Halloween parade marches on despite deadly terror attack
New York City is working to get back to normal Wednesday morning. Just blocks from the scene of Tuesday's deadly terror attack the city was scheduled to host its annual Halloween parade. Last night, it went on just as organizers had planned.
The NYPD added extra security to this year's parade, which took place just a few hours after the attack, reports CBS News correspondent Michelle Miller. But other than the boosted police presence, this year's celebration was just like all the others before it, and that was exactly the point.
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With unified spirit, costumed revelers marched down New York's Sixth Avenue in the city's annual Halloween parade.
"New York is strong. New York is going to pull through no matter what happens, we're always going to have a good time," said parade-goer Jesus Guerrios.
Additional police were assigned to the parade route to help protect the 44-year-old tradition. New York City mayor Bill de Blasio said life must continue as normal.
"We have been tested before as a city. New Yorkers do not give in in the face of these kinds of actions," he said at a press conference Tuesday.
Three-month-old Jebrod Ansari was celebrating his first Halloween parade along with his parents, who were undeterred by the violence earlier in the day that left eight people dead.
"I was a little, but I was not that much to not go for the parade," Adnan Ansari said. "Because this is our country this our city, we can trust and we should not be afraid of such incidents."
"You have to get out and you have to enjoy life," said tourist Autumn Cromwell.
Cromwell was driving up from Maryland when the attack occurred. She said she didn't have second thoughts about coming out Tuesday night.
With the new World Trade Center shining over the parade route, the day's events weren't lost on the life-long New Yorkers Jesus and Katy Guerrios.
"Being out here through all the things we've been through, you know. Times Square, 9/11 all that. We want to come out and show New York solidarity. Even though it's a horrible tragedy, we still feel that you can't stop what you're doing," Jesus Guerrios said.
This year's parade is just one example of New York City showing its resilience. The annual New York City Marathon is scheduled for this Sunday. It will go on as planned.