There will be more police and drones patrolling the 99th annual ceremony Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said this on Wednesday.
Standing in front of the Macy's balloon at West 81st Street and Columbus Avenue on the Upper West Side, Tisch and Mayor Adams said at a press conference that there were no known credible threats to the world-famous parade and that thousands of NYPD officers would be stationed along the parade route.
“We can tell you that there are no known specific credible threats to the parade at this time, but as always, New Yorkers will see an increased police presence with thousands of NYPD officers stationed along the two-and-a-half mile parade route and surrounding routes,” Tisch said.
Several NYPD units, including the emergency services unit, as well as canine, aviation, bomb squads and port units, will be increasing patrols, authorities said, adding that NYPD intelligence teams are also monitoring social media for any potential threats.
“Our helicopters and drones will be deployed to increase patrols on the ground, and there will be hundreds of NYPD officers and DSNI Blocking vehicles are strategically placed along the route,” Tisch said.
Tisch also said the department plans to create a team to deal with potential protesters. In 2024 Pro-Palestinian protesters briefly disrupted and blocked the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.leading to 25 arrests, police said.
Meanwhile, activists poured into the parade route on Sixth Avenue at 55th Street, blocking the Ronald McDonald float about an hour after the beloved parade began. Demonstrators stopped the procession for several minutes.
“Not only is it fun to exchange gifts this season, but it also plays an important role in the economic stability of this city,” said Mayor Adams. “Tomorrow the weather will be mild, we will monitor the balloon situation, if it reaches a level where we cannot raise them, we will contact Macy's organizers to provide them with the information they need.”
The parade will begin around 8:30 a.m. and will follow a route starting at the corner of West 77th Street and Central Park West and ending at 34th Street in front of Macy's Herald Square.
Tisch said prohibited items in the parade will include refrigerators, large bags, chairs, drones, umbrellas, strollers, bicycles, pets and any large items that block the view.
The increased security measures came after the New York Police Department announced that there had been a shooting in Washington, D.C., of two National Guard soldiers a few blocks from the White House. no known connection to New York.
“We now know that at least two members of the National Guard were shot and killed in a targeted attack on law enforcement. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Guardsmen and their families,” Tisch said. “We are closely monitoring the situation and coordinating our response with our law enforcement partners in the District of Columbia.”
