Americans paused Thursday to celebrate their blessings on Thanksgiving despite terrorism fears and racial tensions over fatal police shootings across the country. A record number of police officers patrolled the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, while St. Louis resumed its annual parade, canceled last year amid protests over the fatal police shooting of an unarmed young black man.
At the White House, President Barack Obama and his family had a traditional meal to mark the holiday, which traces its roots to a 1621 feast shared between colonists known as the Pilgrims and Native Americans. Here’s a look at how the country celebrated Thanksgiving.
TIGHT SECURITY FOR SNOOPY AND SPONGEBOB
Spectators at the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York noted a stepped-up police presence, with officers perched on buildings like Radio City Music Hall and watching from helicopters hovering overhead.
”It’s a little scary, but at least it’s keeping us safe,” Kim Miller, of Boston, said of the heavy security. ”We’re having fun.”
City officials have said there are no known, credible threats against New York following the deadly attacks in Paris and a video purportedly produced by the Islamic State group that contained footage of Times Square. But Police Commissioner William Bratton said more than 2,500 officers would nevertheless be stationed along the parade route for the Thanksgiving festivities – the largest number of officers the department has ever assigned to the event.
The parade, in its 89th year, included marching bands and floats along with Hello Kitty, Snoopy, SpongeBob SquarePants and other giant balloons.
PARADE RETURNS IN ST. LOUIS
In St. Louis, a modest-sized crowd gathered on an unseasonably warm morning for the annual Thanksgiving Day parade that was canceled last year amid protests and widespread arrests over the death of 18-year-old Michael Brown and other police shootings.
The 2014 parade was supposed to be held several days after a St. Louis County grand jury decided to not indict former Ferguson police Officer Darren Wilson, who is white, in Brown’s death.
CHICAGO PROTESTERS PAUSE
After two days of demonstrations following the release of a video that shows a white Chicago police officer shooting and killing black teenager Laquan McDonald in 2014, protest organizers said there were no marches planned for Thanksgiving. Instead, they said they were preparing for a march through the city’s famed shopping district, the Magnificent Mile, on Friday.
AT THE WHITE HOUSE, KALE TWO WAYS
Obama says Thanksgiving is a day for food, football and hoping ”the turkey didn’t turn out too dry.”
Even if the White House’s thyme-roasted bird didn’t turn out to be the moistest, the first family’s menu boasted more than enough other choices to fill the stomach.
There was honey-baked ham with apricot-mustard glaze, and prime rib and creamed horseradish, according to the White House. And two kinds of stuffing: cornbread with chorizo and ”roasted peppers oyster.”
As for the veggies, the Obamas could enjoy some braised winter greens – collards, kale, and turnip greens – in addition to kale Caesar salad. Green bean casserole, too.
Plus, the macaroni and cheese, sweet potato gratin and Yukon Gold mashed potatoes
As for dessert, it seemed Pie Day came early: banana cream, coconut cream, pumpkin, apple, pecan and cherry.