As the massive, beautiful parade floats soared through the sky above at this year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, security in the streets of New York City tightened up more than ever to ensure the safety of the onlookers. In direct response to the gruesome terror attack in New York City that took the lives of eight people on October 31, layers of special security guards along with hundreds of highly trained police officers were put in place to keep the parade free of any potential danger. Although there were no specific warning signs or threats of an attack prior to the start of the parade, Mayor Bill de Blasio and Police Commissioner James O’Neill stressed the increase of security for the event.

O’Neill spoke about the tightened security before the event, saying, “I want to assure the people that we swore to protect that anytime something happens anywhere in the world, the NYPD works with our law enforcement partners and studies it and we learn from it and it informs our decision making going forward.” With new threats on the safety of the United States seeming to pop up every few days, it is clear to see why the increase of security personnel was a necessary step that had to be taken.   

What does this say about the state of the country? In past years, while terror attacks remained a reason for caution, parades did not require the amount of security that was needed for this event. This illustrates the rising tensions between the U.S. and different terror groups. “It proves that our country is on high alert all the time. There are too many horrible attacks going on around the world, and while I am glad that our country is stepping up its game when it comes to keeping the people safe, I wish that there was no need for it in the first place,” said sophomore Aidan Diaz.

Although the security was especially tight at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade, it does not stop there. The New York City Police Department has remained aware and ready to act on anything deemed suspicious after the attacks on Lower Manhattan and Las Vegas in October. Police urged civilians to immediately contact an officer if they see or hear of anything suspicious before, during, or after the parade, along with placing an officer at every corner along the parade route.

NYPD Chief of Patrol Terence Monahan spoke before the parade about the department’s plans to keep the city safe during and after the event, saying, “We have people, observation teams; there will be sniper teams in and around. We will have undercover assets in a lot of different buildings, so there’s going to be a lot you can see out there, and a lot you won’t see out there that day covering every aspect.” Following the parade, the NYPD and federal agencies continue to keep security high, placing dozens of high quality cameras around the city that will be broadcasting back live feed 24/7. “There’s probably not a spot in New York City that there isn’t some sort of camera that can be focused on you,” Monahan said.

With this improved security lasting long after the parade, citizens of the city and of the country feel safer than before. Sophomore Adam Polokoff said, “I guess it makes me feel safer, like I know that when I go into the city I’ll be protected from anything dangerous.” As the parade went on successfully and millions of New Yorkers enjoyed their Thanksgiving Day meals, NYPD officers were hard at work making sure the city remained safe during these times of high terror alert.