Voice of America
05 Jul 2022, 09:05 GMT+10
Independence Day celebrations in the United States Monday were marred by a shooting at a parade in the Midwestern city of Highland Park in the state of Ilinois that left at least six people dead.
Police said two dozen other people were hospitalized after the shooting in the city of 30,000, about 40 kilometers north of Chicago.
Gunfire broke out just 10 minutes after the parade began around 10 a.m. Monday, and people ran for cover.
Police said they were searching for the shooter and urged everyone to shelter in their homes.
'On a day that we came together to celebrate community and freedom, we're instead mourning the tragic loss of life and struggling with the terror that was brought upon us,' Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering said.
The latest mass shooting comes on the day that many Americans consider the most patriotic on the U.S. calendar.
Celebrations across the US
The Fourth of July holiday celebrates the 13 original colonies' decision to renounce British rule and form the United States. Representatives of the colonies voted for independence on July 2, 1776, and two days later, they approved the Declaration of Independence, a document that explained the vote.
Modern celebrations include parades, picnics, political speeches and fireworks. Middlesex County Volunteers Fifes & Drums perform during rehearsals for the annual Fourth of July Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular, July 3, 2022, in Boston.
This year's celebrations mark a return to normal activities in most locations after more than two years of coronavirus restrictions and precautions.
Events that had been canceled for the past two years resumed this year, including Independence Day celebrations in Baltimore, Maryland, and a hot dog eating contest in Brooklyn's Coney Island neighborhood, a long-standing July Fourth tradition for New Yorkers.
Americans also returned to traveling in large numbers. The automobile association AAA predicted 47.9 million people would drive 80 kilometers or more from home over the holiday weekend.
The group also forecast that 3.55 million Americans would fly during the holiday weekend.
The mass of flyers is testing airlines and airports, which have struggled to keep up with demand all season long, leading to flight cancellations.
U.S. President Joe Biden tweeted Monday that 'the Fourth of July is a sacred day in our country - it's a time to celebrate the goodness of our nation, the only nation on Earth founded based on an idea: that all people are created equal.'
President Joe Biden speaks during a Fourth of July celebration for military families on the South Lawn of the White House, July 4, 2022, in Washington. Listening are first lady Jill Biden, left, and Navy Chaplain Lt. Chandler Irwin.
The Declaration of Independence includes the famous passage 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.'
While the country's founders fought for those rights, they did not apply at the time to Black people, who had to wait until the adoption of the 13th amendment in 1865, when slavery was abolished.
Biden and first lady Jill Biden hosted a Fourth of July barbecue for military families on the South Lawn of the White House Monday afternoon. In the evening, they are expected to watch the fireworks display at the National Mall, considered one of the country's largest.
Some information in this report came from the Associated Press.
Get a daily dose of Santa Barbara Post news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Santa Barbara Post.
More InformationSINGAPORE: Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong warned this week of the possible miscalculations over tensions in Taiwan, stressing that ...
Right-hander Tyler Mahle will try to continue his winning streak on Wednesday afternoon when the Minnesota Twins attempt to complete ...
Franmil Reyes looks to continue his solid start as a Cub when Chicago visits the Washington Nationals for the rubber ...
After claiming the 10,000th win in franchise history, the visiting Philadelphia Phillies look to start on their second 10,000 and ...
Veteran Charlie Morton struck out 12 in 6 2/3 scoreless innings and Matt Olson drove in three runs as the ...
Brandon Crawford smacked a two-out, two-run home run off Ian Kennedy in the ninth inning Tuesday night, allowing the San ...
As China unleashed live-fire military exercises off the coast of Taiwan, simulating a real "reunification by force" operation in the ...
NAYPYIDAW, Myanmar - According to a legal official, a court in Myanmar has sentenced former leader Aung San Suu Kyi ...
BEIJING, China: Following a meeting between their foreign ministers, China and Nepal have agreed to build the Trans-Himalayan Multi-Dimensional Connectivity ...
BEIJING, China: Several regions in China experienced temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius, including the major southwestern city of Chongqing.The country's ...
SACRAMENTO, California: California Governor Gavin Newsom is proposing to give a $1.4 billion government loan to extend the life of ...
NEW DELHI, India: A government order released to reporters this week said New Delhi will continue to enforce a mask ...