On November 21, 2021 in Waukesha, Wisconsin, a man named Darrell Brooks drove his car through an annual Christmas parade, killing 5 people immediately (one more fatality came later), as well as injuring over 60. The parade started on Main Street in Waukesha. The car entered the parade on main street, and plowed through the marchers before they rounded onto Wisconsin Avenue. Many believed that the car was originally part of the parade, however it became evident that it was not once it picked up speed, and ran over the marchers. Brooks was taken into custody and is being charged with 6 counts of intentional first degree homicide. 

After the incident, the Waukesha Police Department issued a shelter in place in fear that there would be a chain of other attacks, however as the night progressed the department redacted the order. School was cancelled the following day, November 22nd, and influential figures began to chime in, offering support. Both Wisconsin senators Tammy Baldwin (D) and Ron Johnson (R) released a joint statement in which they asked the public to mourn, and to not politicize the tragedy. President Biden called the event a “horrific act of violence.” 

It is also important to recognize and praise the good Samaritans as well as the police officers who were on scene for the incident, as many of which are credited with preventing more deaths. A GoFundMe page quickly raised over $900,000 to benefit the victims and their families, and a second GoFundMe has raised $450,000. Many more have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The GoFundMe page can be found here:  https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/waukesha-christmas-parade-fundraisers