Highland Park Community Gathers to Remember Victims and Reclaim Fourth of July Parade Route

A year after a horrifying shooting incident during the Fourth of July parade in Highland Park, residents came together on Tuesday to honor the memory of the seven individuals who lost their lives. The community aimed to commemorate the day, heal together, and reclaim their space as they move forward.

With a trauma-informed approach, city officials organized a series of events to provide an opportunity for collective healing. While hundreds of Highland Park residents gathered to pay their respects and sang the National Anthem in unison, other cities across the United States were grappling with the aftermath of fresh gun violence incidents.

Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering expressed the sentiment that a celebratory parade would have been inappropriate. However, it was crucial for them to send a message that evil does not triumph and that they are taking back their parade route and community.

The Remembrance Ceremony at City Hall served as a focal point of the events, featuring speeches from Mayor Rotering, spiritual leaders, a musical performance, and a moment of silence. Many attendees wore matching blue shirts representing the local high school’s colors, with the words “We Are Highland Park” printed on them.

Following the ceremony, the participants walked together along last year’s parade route. The event refrained from including floats, performers, or giveaways.

Jessica Morales, Kevin Flynn, and their two young children attended the parade last year, seeking refuge in a nearby store when the shooting occurred. Morales described the experience as deeply frightening. This year, they returned to honor the victims and embrace the positive aspects of the holiday while remembering what happened.

Mietra Namdari, accompanied by her three children aged 13, 11, and 7, walked the half-mile parade route, pointing out the law enforcement officers stationed on rooftops, just as the shooter had been.

Molly Dillon, a 34-year-old who grew up in Highland Park, missed last year’s parade but had attended it more than 25 times previously. She acknowledged the surreal and unfamiliar context surrounding this year’s event. Dillon wore a white T-shirt advocating for “gun control now.”

To avoid triggering any associations with gunfire, the city planned a drone show instead of fireworks for the evening. Mayor Rotering acknowledged that for many members of the community, it was still too soon to reintroduce fireworks due to the trauma.

Stringent security measures were in place, requiring attendees to register for each event, present a QR code, and pass through security checks.

Reflecting on the day’s events, Kevin Flynn stated that they provided an opportunity to both celebrate and remember, holding his young daughter in his arms.

Savage is a corps member for the Big Big News/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

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• Highland Park Shooting: Residents Gather to Remember Victims
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• Gun Violence and Community Healing
• Highland Park Drone Show for Fourth of July
• Advocacy for Gun Control