A decade ago, on Mother’s Day 2013, New Orleans was shaken by a tragic incident that reverberated globally. Gunmen unleashed gunfire into a Mother’s Day second-line parade at Frenchmen and North Villere streets, leaving nineteen people wounded and one trampled. This event, marked as the city’s most significant mass shooting in recent history, struck a chord beyond its immediate impact.
The targeted assault on an emblematic tradition of African American culture elevated the tragedy into a profound symbol of outrage. Reflecting on the incident, singer John Boutte’ likened it to “bringing a gun to church and starting to shoot people.” The immediacy of the event’s coverage was underscored by journalist Lauren McGaughy’s firsthand account, prompting rapid media response and international attention.
