New Orleans attack; Milwaukee Dancing Grannies responds

MILWAUKEE - The tragedy in New Orleans is hitting close to home for the Dancing Grannies of Milwaukee. 

It’s been 3 years since they lost members in the Waukesha Christmas parade attack. Many are reliving the trauma of the attack.

But they are reminding people that healing is a journey.

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"Our hearts are breaking that the people of New Orleans are going through this now too," executive director Jan Kwiatkowski said. "It just brings back everything from that day in Waukesha."

More than a thousand miles away, Kwaitkowski is keeping Louisiana close to her heart with this necklace.

The Dancing Grannies lost members in the Waukesha Christmas parade when a man drove through the crowd in an SUV. Six people died and more than 60 were injured. 

She said the attack has stark similarities to the deadly New Orleans rampage.

Authorities say at least 15 people were killed and more than 30 injured. The FBI said the situation was a terrorist act. The driver is said to be an army veteran who died in a shootout with police. 

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Kwaitkowski wasn't at the parade that day in Waukesha, but her team was forever changed.

She said the grannies were just in New Orleans performing in 2023.

"Everybody sees the pomspoms and the sparkle in the streets in the parade but there has been an awful lot of hard work and tears and talk," Kwaitkowski said. "Healing is hard work but it can happen. You’ll never be the same you’ve changed, but it can happen." 

Kwiatkowski said the group has been checking with friends and other dance groups in New Orleans. She said none of their friends have been physically hurt.