De Blasio: No Traditional Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade This Year. He Was Okay With Protest Marches.

On Monday, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that although the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will not be canceled, it will not be held along the usual 2.5-mile parade route but instead just featured as a televised broadcast.

De Blasio stated, “It will be a different kind of event. They’re reinventing the event for this moment in history, and you’ll be able to feel the spirit and the joy of that day on television, online. Not a live parade but something that will really give us that warmth and that great feeling we have on Thanksgiving Day.” He added, “New York City is always proud to join Macy’s to ring in the holiday season with New Yorkers and viewers around the world. We’ve worked closely with the Macy’s team on a safe and creative plan this year, and we look forward to keeping this tradition going on Thanksgiving Day.”