The Latest: Spectacle, security on display at Macy's parade | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
Subscribe

Would you like to subscribe to our newsletter?

Current Conditions Mostly Cloudy  4.7°C

The Latest: Spectacle, security on display at Macy's parade

Police officers stand near the site where a large balloon of Olaf, from the animated film, "Frozen", is being inflated for the Thanksgiving Day parade in New York, Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2017. Sand-filled sanitation trucks and police sharpshooters will mix with glittering floats and giant balloons at a Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade that comes in a year of terrible mass shootings and a deadly truck attack in lower Manhattan. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Original Publication Date November 23, 2017 - 6:16 AM

NEW YORK - The Latest on the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York (all times local):

4:30 p.m.

Protesters say four activists at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade jumped over barriers and briefly sat down in the street to protest the end of a program that extended protections to immigrants brought illegally to the U.S. as children.

A spokesman for activist group Cosecha says they sat down near the start of the parade at about 9:10 a.m. Police quickly escorted them back. No one was arrested and the parade was not delayed.

Spokesman Roberto Juarez sys the four are recipients of the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.

The extravaganza of Americana made its way through 2 1/2 miles (3.22 kilometres) of Manhattan on a cold morning, with new faces and old favourites in the lineup.

Paradegoers said the ramped-up security made them confident the event was well protected.

___

3:25 p.m.

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade featured balloons, bands, stars and heavy security in a year marked by attacks on outdoor gathering spots.

Both new faces and old favourites were in the lineup at the extravaganza on a cold morning.

The parade came less than a month after a truck attack on a bike path near the World Trade Center killed eight people, and police went all-out to ensure the spectacle went off safely.

Officers with assault weapons and portable radiation detectors circulated among the crowds, sharpshooters were stationed on rooftops and sand-filled city sanitation trucks were positioned as traffic barriers.

Paradegoers said the ramped-up security made them confident the event was well protected.

There was a minor mishap: A balloon blew into a tree and popped. No one was injured.

___

11:25 a.m.

A balloon has blown into a tree and popped at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, but no one was injured.

An Associated Press reporter was on hand as a gust of wind carried a candy-cane balloon into a branch around 10:30 a.m. near the start of the parade route on Manhattan's Upper West Side. The candy cane was smaller than the parade's signature giant balloons.

Police quickly cleared the deflated balloon out of the way, and the parade continued.

In 2005, a giant balloon caught an unexpected gust of wind and struck a lamppost in Times Square, injuring two people. Since then, the parade has been accident-free.

___

11 a.m.

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is marching, rolling and soaring in traditional style as police go all-out to secure it in a year marked by attacks on outdoor gathering spots.

The extravaganza of Americana made its way through 2 1/2 miles (3.22 kilometres) of Manhattan on a cold morning, with new faces and old favourites in the lineup.

Authorities say there's no confirmation of a credible threat to the parade, but security is heavy. The parade comes after a truck attack on a bike path near the World Trade Center killed eight people on Halloween. Weeks earlier, a gunman rained bullets down on a crowd at a Las Vegas country music festival, killing 58 people.

Paradegoers say the ramped-up security makes them feel confident the spectacle is safe.

___

9:10 a.m.

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is underway with balloons, bands and floats as police go all-out to secure it in a year marked by attacks on outdoor gathering spots.

The parade stepped off Thursday with new faces and old favourites among its signature giant balloons. Olaf from the movie "Frozen" and Chase from TV's "Paw Patrol" will be among the new balloons, along with a new version of the Grinch of Dr. Seuss fame. Smokey Robinson, Jimmy Fallon, The Roots, Flo Rida and Wyclef Jean are scheduled to appear.

Authorities say there's no confirmation of a credible threat to the parade, but security is heavy. There are officers with assault weapons and portable radiation detectors among the crowds, sharpshooters on rooftops and sand-filled city sanitation trucks as traffic barriers.

___

12:30 a.m.

New faces and old favourites will fly, float and march in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. And police are going all-out to secure it in a year marked by attacks on outdoor gathering spots.

The parade steps off Thursday with marching bands, performers from Broadway hits, elaborate floats and signature giant balloons. Olaf from the movie "Frozen" and Chase from TV's "Paw Patrol" will be among the new balloons, along with a new version of the Grinch of Dr. Seuss fame.

Authorities say there's no confirmation of a credible threat to the parade, but security will be heavy. There will be officers with assault weapons and portable radiation detectors among the crowds, sharpshooters on rooftops and sand-filled city sanitation trucks as traffic barriers at intersections.

News from © The Associated Press, 2017
The Associated Press

  • Popular penticton News
View Site in: Desktop | Mobile