RALEIGH, N.C. — Raleigh city staff has reached out to the Greater Raleigh Merchants Association with a compromise for a non-motorized Christmas parade, according to Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin.
It’s unclear as of 4:15 p.m. Friday whether the Greater Raleigh Merchants Association would accept the city’s proposed compromise.
“Fingers crossed we can get to a compromise,” Baldwin wrote in a text to WRAL News.
Greater Raleigh Merchants Association executive director Jennifer Martin said she plans to send the city’s proposal to the association’s board. The board is expected to decide whether to accept the city’s compromise. It’s unclear how soon the board could make a decision.
“The decision was made out of an abundance of caution for parade participants and spectators, as well as respect for Hailey Brooks’ family and friends,” the city wrote Thursday in announcing the change.
On Nov. 19, 2022, 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.
This year’s parade was scheduled for Nov. 18.
On Thursday, the Brooks family released a statement, stating they disagree with the decision to cancel the parade.
The Brooks family has sued the driver of the truck, Landen Glass, and the Greater Raleigh Merchants Association. The city of Raleigh is not named as a defendant in the lawsuit.
Glass, who was just 20, had a history of traffic violations and had never driven in a parade.
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