South Shore Drill Team performs at the Gary Comer Youth Center
CHICAGO (WLS) -- For the first time in 35 years, the South Shore Drill Team did not perform in the annual Bud Billiken Parade early Saturday in the city's Bronzeville neighborhood.
Hundreds turned out for the parade, but a large crowd also showed up at the Saturday morning at the Gary Comer Youth Center to watch the team perform. The group dropped out of the parade due to restrictions that limit groups to 100 people. The South Shore Drill Team said their group is twice that many and did not want to leave anyone behind.
Contention led up to the parade organizers, the Chicago Defender Charities, tried to enforce the participant limit to cut costs and reduce the length of the parade.
Despite the controversy earlier in the week, the parade -- known as the official back-to-school event for Chicago youth -- was filled with more than two hours of floats, marching bands, music and all the hallmarks of past years.
