New Orleans Crowd Chants ‘USA! USA! USA!’ After Moment of Silence and National Anthem at Sugar Bowl
Screenshot via X.
The crowd at the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans honored the victims of the New Year’s terror attack with a moment of silence and chants of “USA! USA! USA!” before the game Thursday.
Investigators have said that the suspect in the attack, 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar, drove a rented pickup truck into a crowd of New Year’s revelers on Bourbon Street. Jabbar, a U.S. citizen and Army veteran who lived in Texas, was killed after a shootout with police. At least 14 other people were killed and dozens more were wounded. The FBI has said the attack is being investigated as an act of terrorism.
The Jan. 1 Sugar Bowl game between Georgia and Notre Dame was delayed for one day due to security concerns, and officials installed additional barriers and brought in “hundreds” of local, state, and federal police officers to protect the fans.
Video clips posted to social media by attendees showed a moment of silence for the victims, followed by the national anthem and chants of “USA! USA! USA!” from the crowd.
The ESPN broadcast also included a video message from President Joe Biden. “Today all of America stands with the people of New Orleans,” he said, offering prayers for those killed and injured, and for the first responders. The president added that he was glad the game was back on and was not surprised, “because the spirit of New Orleans can never be kept down — and that’s also true for the spirit of America.”
Former Florida Gators and NFL player Tim Tebow offered his own prayers for the victims and those who were grieving and also emphasized the “hope” from seeing the “bravery” and “good in so many people” who rushed to render aid.
Watch the video clips above.
