NEW ORLEANS—Walt Leger III, president and CEO of New Orleans & Company, the official destination and marketing sales organization for the city’s tourism industry, issued a statement following the New Year’s Day rampage at Bourbon Street.
“New Orleans & Company sends its deepest condolences to the loved ones and victims of the terrorist attack in our city in the early morning of New Year’s Day,” the statement begins. “It is heartbreaking to learn the names, see the photos, and hear the stories of the victims. Let us be clear: Millions of visitors are drawn to New Orleans—and hundreds of thousands of us chose to live and work here—because of our welcoming people and our beautiful culture. New Orleans is uniquely ‘Built to Host’ major events, meetings, and conventions because of our world-class venues, culture, and walkability.
“Our preparation for upcoming events, and our community’s spirit and resilience, will not be deterred by this horrific act.
“New Orleans shines brightly and is a unique light in the minds and imaginations of those around the country and the world. That light will not be dimmed by a single evil act.
“We thank the New Orleans Police Department and all the regional, state, and federal law enforcement officials for their response and service. We particularly wish a speedy recovery to the two members of New Orleans Police Department who were injured as they bravely responded and saved countless lives.
“We thank the thousands of our customers, colleagues, partners, and friends who have reached out from all over the world to express condolences and love for New Orleans. Your words have comforted and inspired us in an emotional time. Thank you for affirming your affection and commitment to our great City. As you look forward to being with us again, please know we look forward to welcoming you with open arms.”
Following the events on January 1, Bourbon Street was closed to the public but reopened at 2:30 p.m. local time, January 2. The Allstate Sugar Bowl at Caesars Superdome, originally scheduled for New Year’s Day, kicked off at 3:00 p.m. local time, January 2, and was televised nationally on ESPN.
The New Orleans & Co. statement included the latest information from the FBI briefing on the morning of January 2. “The FBI indicated that the attacker acted alone. That person was killed by police on the scene. FBI deputy assistant director Christopher Raia said, ‘we do not believe the public is in danger.’
“New Orleans & Company stands with our city, state, and federal partners who are unified. We defer to the FBI as the lead investigative agency for updates on the ongoing investigation.”
The statement also includes information on how the public can help.
“Provide the FBI with Tips: We encourage anyone who has information, photos or videos that may be helpful to the investigation, to please share it with the FBI at 1-800-callFBI or www.fbi.gov/bourbonstreetattack.
“Give blood: New Orleans EMS is partnering with The Blood Center to host a pair of emergency blood drives on Thursday, January 2, and Friday, January 3, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., at 2609 Canal Street. Other Blood Center locations in the region are also open with extended hours, which can be found here.
“Donate to help the survivors and victims: The Greater New Orleans Foundation has set up a fund to assist victims and survivors. To donate, please visit www.gnof.org. The United Way of Southeast Louisiana has set up the New Orleans Relief Fund to provide direct support to victims and their families. Donations will help cover medical expenses, funeral costs, trauma counseling, and more. To donate, please visit www.unitedwaysela.org/UnitedforNOLA
“Come visit: Even as we mourn, we are planning our rise. If you have a scheduled trip to New Orleans, or are attending an event, meeting or convention here, we encourage you to keep your plans. If you want to support our community, please plan a trip. We specialize in bringing people together and cannot let fear win. The terrorist attack in New Orleans was an attack on all of America and our way of life.
“As President Biden stated, ‘So many people around the world love New Orleans because of its history, its culture, and, above all, its people. So, I know while this person committed a terrible assault on the city, the spirit of our New Orleans will never, never, never be defeated. It always will shine forth. We’ve seen that time and time again throughout its history, and I know we’ll see it again in the days and weeks ahead.’”
For updates, visit www.neworleans.com/updates and follow New Orleans & Company’s social channels at @visitneworleans and @neworleansandco.
