Father of Hailey Brooks calls out Raleigh mayor, city for failing to contact family in initial cancellation of Christmas parade
The father of the girl killed in last year's Raleigh Christmas Parade said Tuesday night he and his family were troubled with the Raleigh City Council’s decision about this year’s Christmas parade, calling out Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin.
"We were troubled to learn that the city denied the permit for this year's parade rather than enacting change that would have put safety measures that have substance in place and allowed the parade to go on," Trey Brooks said. "We were hurt and offended when you, Mayor Baldwin, pointed to our family as a cause for the parade being canceled."
On Sept. 15, the Greater Raleigh Merchants Association announced this year's parade will be held without vehicles. The day before, the city said it would not grant a special event permit application for the 2023 Raleigh Christmas Parade. Hours after that announcement, Brooks family attorney Jason Miller said the family disagreed with the initial decision to cancel the parade.
"The city's official statement, as well as your statement, made the claim that the parade was being canceled to honor Hailey out of respect for the family," Trey Brooks said to Baldwin. "However, neither you nor anyone from the city has ever bothered to contact us on the tragic death of our daughter to ask whether we would consider it an honor for the city to cancel this year's parade."
Trey Brooks said had Baldwin or someone from the city contacted him or the family, they said they would have wanted to city to conduct a "thorough and transparent investigation into what went wrong."
Also, Trey Brooks asked for the city and organizations involved to enact "common-sense protections that should have been in place last year."
On Tuesday, Trey Brooks said other municipalities and communities have reached out to their family to ask how they could honor Hailey Brooks and what they could do to make their respective parades safer.
"Each day, my wife and I, by the strength of God, get out of bed and fight to give our two children as much of a normal life as we can while trying to carry on Hailey's legacy and seeking some kind of justice to all those hurt by her loss," Trey Brooks said.
Trey Brooks said strangers as far away as New Zealand have reached out to express their condolences.
"We have built relationships with people that were there that day that were gracious enough to reach out through their own traumas to check on us and have become like family to us," Trey Brooks said.
On Nov. 19, 2022, Hailey Brooks was dancing with the CC & Company Dance Complex in the parade when she was struck and killed by an out-of-control pickup truck that lost its brakes on Hillsborough Street near Boylan Avenue. She was 11 years old.
"Please don't blame our family for canceling the Christmas Parade," Trey Brooks said. "You had 11 months to ensure that this wonderful Raleigh tradition can go on with basic safety measures in place."
Those in attendance stood and applauded Brooks at the end of his speech. Baldwin gave thanks to Brooks for his comments.
“Thank you very much for being here and expressing what you have experienced and I can’t even imagine,” Baldwin said.
Baldwin also released a statement after Tuesday's meeting.
“I told him after the meeting how sorry I was for his loss and thanked him for having the courage to come speak to us,” Baldwin said.
The 79th Christmas parade in the city's history is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 18.
Baldwin spoke with WRAL News on Wednesday, stating they were "very sorry obviously for the family's loss." She spoke with Trey Brooks after the meeting, thanking him for showing the courage to come and share his feelings.
"It’s been heartbreaking, and our staff did what they felt was the right thing to avoid having something similar ever happen again," Baldwin said. "We’re not in a position right now to really have that large of a parade with as many floats."
Baldwin also clarified what will be allowed. It includes wheelchairs, bicycles and horses, Baldwin said. She said there will not be cars or floats.
The parade is run by the Greater Raleigh Merchant's Association with the city overseeing permits.
The city released a statement regarding the new regulations surrounding the event.
“The Christmas Parade is a complex and unique event, and it should not be compared with other events. We are continuing conversations with Greater Raleigh Merchants Association and evaluating their updated permit application. Safety is our top concern. Ultimately, we believe we can find a solution that meets the needs of the community and safely celebrates.”
Trey Brooks said the city of Raleigh has held two other parades since the 2022 Raleigh Christmas Parade. One of them was the Raleigh St. Patrick's Day Parade on March 11 with several rules in place, including:
- All drivers need to be at least 21
- Minors participating in the parade should have adequate adult supervision
- Passengers in parade vehicles are limited to one adult 18 or older
- All vehicles and trailers must have current and valid registration plates
- All vehicles and trailers must have automobile insurance coverage
- All drivers need to possess a valid license for the type of vehicle they are operating
"Right now, I would like nothing more than for all of us to just have a conversation," said Jennifer Martin with the merchants association. "Let’s come together and figure out what is allowed and what isn’t allowed. Let’s get all the parameters in place so we can produce a parade for this city."
The Shine Like Hailey Parade Safety Act was created by lawmakers to effort a statewide safety standard to prevent injuries during community celebrations. The act would apply to communities with a population of more than 35,000 people. The bill has stalled in the general assembly.
Pending litigation is another factor as the Brooks family is suing parade organizers. The city is not listed as a defendant in the lawsuit.
