A Metairie woman who shared a viral St. Patrick’s Day parade video is now dealing with late-night threats and a police investigation after viewers said the clip appeared to show float riders throwing Nazi-style salutes. The woman, who recorded and posted the footage from the Metairie St. Patrick’s Day parade, told police the calls started coming in from a blocked number late Sunday. Parade organizers and parish leaders quickly scrambled to respond, condemning what was caught on camera and moving to punish the riders involved, as reported by WWLTV.
Video sparks backlash on the parade route
The clip, recorded by Dominic Graves, shows three male float riders raising their arms in a way that resembles a Nazi salute. Graves told WWLTV he also heard people nearby shout “heil Hitler” as the float went by.
The video did not stay local for long. Once it hit social media, it spread fast, prompting angry questions about who was on the truck and whether they had broken parade rules that are supposed to keep hate symbols and gestures off the route.
Blocked-number threats and police investigation
According to the report filed with the New Orleans Police Department, the woman who posted the video said she got several calls from a blocked number around 9:30 p.m. Sunday. The report notes that the callers “laughed and threatened to hurt” her, as per WWLTV.
New Orleans police say they have opened an investigation, although no one has been cited or arrested at this point. Detectives are asking anyone with additional videos, photos or messages related to the incident to hang on to that material so it can be reviewed as part of the case.
Riders banned for life, parade fined
The St. Patrick Parade Committee of Jefferson responded by banning four riders who were involved in the incident for life. Jefferson Parish also issued a $400 fine against the parade organization, according to WWLTV.
Jefferson Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng weighed in with a prepared statement, saying, “We do not tolerate hate,” and parish officials said they expect a full accounting of how the episode unfolded on the float. The police report also notes that two of the banned riders attend a New Orleans high school, although their names are redacted in the public paperwork.
Community demands answers as probe continues
Civil-rights advocates and Jewish community groups have called the reports disturbing and are pushing for quick, clear consequences from both parade organizers and local schools. They are also watching closely to see whether the police investigation leads to any criminal or civil penalties.
For now, officials say the case remains open and that any further action will depend on what investigators can confirm from videos and eyewitness accounts. Parade leaders say the lifetime bans will stand while they review participant rules in an effort to keep anything like this from happening again.
