Our staffs and players work tirelessly towards achieving our goals and we share in victories and defeats. However, through football, we are also united and we stand arm-in-arm against all forms of hatred. The Saints said they have partnered with the charity Greater New Orleans Foundation and the nonprofit United Way to allocate the money across the local organizations "that are directly supporting" the victims of the attack and their families.
Community groups and some individuals, including New Orleans Pelican star Zion Williamson, have rallied around the victims of the New Year's Day attack since it happened. Early on Jan. Authorities identified the driver, who also died in a shootout with police, as Shamsud-Din Jabbar , a year-old U. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has called the attack an act of terrorism. A black ISIS flag was flying from the truck's rear bumper, and President Biden later said the FBI found Jabbar had "posted videos to social media indicating that he was inspired by ISIS, expressing a desire to kill" in the hours leading up to the rampage.
This was an act of terrorism. It was premeditated, and an evil act," said Christopher Raia, of the FBI's counter terrorism division, at a briefing Thursday.
At least 35 people were injured in the incident, officials said, and at the time some were hospitalized in critical condition. A vigil was held Saturday evening along Bourbon Street, and it became a celebration of life when a brass band began playing.
Cathy Tenedorio, who lost her year-old son, Matthew, told the Associated Press she was moved by the flood of condolences and kindness at Saturday's vigil. I'm floating through it all," she said. Biden plans to travel to New Orleans with first lady Jill Biden on Monday to "grieve with the families and community members impacted by the tragic attack.
