Saturday, July 6, 2024

'I had to be here': Highland Park comes together for first Fourth of July parade since mass shooting

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For many people, the return of the Highland Park Fourth of July parade on Thursday brought with it many complicated feelings: mourning and reflection, but also a desire to move forward after the mass shooting that took place at the parade two years ago.

For 5-year-old Mina Popp, it was simply a chance to feel joy.

“She’s beaming right now after seeing it,” said her father, Tom Popp, 55, of Highland Park, who was present with his daughter at the 2022 event when a man opened fire with an assault rifle at parade attendees, killing seven people and injuring 48.

They were farther west on Central Avenue, just past Sunset Foods, when the shooting happened, Popp said. He saw people rushing toward him with gun gestures and a high school marching band running toward him, terrified. That’s when the Popps sought protection, taking shelter at a couple’s home, along with several other people.

“It’s really heartbreaking, but one of the things Mina asked us was, ‘Are we ever going to be able to go to a show again? ’ So we’ve been waiting for this,” Popp said.

Both the parade and Thursday’s memorial service sought to navigate those differences among those in attendance — all of them in different stages of healing — while honoring those who were killed or injured.

“We come today in hopes that we as a community can remember and honor the lives lost, the people who have been forever impacted by serious injuries and those who have been traumatized,” said Mayor Nancy Rotering.

“We’re trying to provide discreet opportunities for people to be heard, supported and recognized, and also to help this community not be defined by this tragedy, but to lean into the resilience of the community, and to support each other and move forward.”

Although the city prepared for between 1,000 and 3,000 people to attend the parade, which the year was not celebrated Last night, a noticeably sparse crowd appeared. An intentionally reduced procession of bands, city officials, trucks and acrobats made its way through downtown Highland Park. A new route avoided the block of Central Avenue between First and Second streets where the shooting occurred.

Heidi Aloush, 63, said she wanted to be there to remember the good times of the past 50 years.

“I grew up on this parade,” said Aloush, who said he used to place his chair in front of Ross Cosmeticson Central Avenue, to watch. “My kids grew up on this parade. I just felt like I had to be here for myself and for the community.”

As a social worker, Aloush said she provided emotional support to people in the community following the mass shooting.

“One of the beautiful things that happened in such a tragedy is that Highland Park came together,” she said. “I expected nothing less, but strangers comforted strangers. People reached out to whoever they could to help and I just feel like that brought this community closer together.”

Translated by Gisela Orozco for The Voice Chicago