Nearly 1 million fans pack Oakland for Golden State Warriors Victory Parade

ByLyanne Melendez and Laura Anthony KGO logo
Saturday, June 20, 2015
Nearly 1 million fans pack Oakland for Warriors Victory Parade
Pure elation was the mood today as hundreds of thousands of people lined up along Oakland streets for the official parade and celebration of the Golden State Warriors' first NBA championship in 40 years.

OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- The streets of Oakland were awash in yellow and blue as nearly 1 million fans watched and cheered at the Golden State Warriors victory parade, which has been 40 years in the making.[br /][br /]In a rare moment of glory, Oakland - a city that usually makes news for crime, corruption, protests and violence- shined in the national spotlight.[br /][br /]"No better place for this happen in Oakland, so proud of this city and so proud of the Warriors to give this community a sense of spirit and pride it deserves," Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom said.[br /][br /][b][url HREF="http://abc7ne.ws/1FsA8Oj" TARGET="" REL=""]VIDEO: Highlights from Golden State Warriors victory speeches[/url][/b][br /][post ID="793951" /][br /][br /][twitter ID="611960184244563968" /][br /][twitter ID="611933691682516992" /][br /][twitter ID="611942973559803904" /][br /][twitter ID="611940298374000640" /][br /][twitter ID="611972557936332801" /][br /]On Friday, blue-and-gold-clad fans flooded downtown to see the NBA championship players, MC Hammer, six floats and, of course, the championship trophy, won after the team bested LeBron James' Cleveland Cavaliers.[br /][br /]People started lining up as early as 3 a.m., and city officials estimated at least 500,000 fans packed the streets when the parade started about 10 a.m.[br /][br /][b][url HREF="http://abc7ne.ws/1Lk0iei" TARGET="" REL=""]PHOTOS: Golden State Warriors Victory Parade[/url][/b][br /][post ID="794368" /][br /][br /]Warriors' Draymond Green jumped off his bus and gave high fives to people lining Broadway. While Green greeted the citizens of Dub Nation, MVP Stephen Curry held the championship trophy high, as he shared center stage with his family and teammates. "I'm so excited to be a part of this group, that we talked about all day. Every piece of the puzzle had to come together to make this happen and we did it. It's been a long journey, this year has been so much fun," Curry said.[br /][br /]Andre Iguodala showed off his sense of humor during his victory speech saying: "I cancelled my tee time this morning, so it must have been something important for me to cancel a tee time. The best fans in the league, you all deserve this."[br /][br /]At Children's Fairyland on Lake Merritt, it was all about Riley on Friday as the large colorful sign was changed to read "Rileyland" on Friday morning.[br /][br /]The mayors of San Francisco, San Jose and Oakland were all in the parade showing support for the team at a time when Oakland officials are fighting to keep the NBA champions from relocating across the San Francisco Bay. The Warriors have purchased land in San Francisco, where they plan to build a privately financed arena.[br /][br /]Warriors fans and city leaders alike have stood behind their team through the season, and on Friday they basked in the glory of the team's first NBA title in four decades.[br /][br /]"We're so proud of the job that the entire city of Oakland did as these great ambassadors for these finals," Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf said Thursday. "Like the Warriors themselves, we put together a great team of businesses, fans and city workers that hosted the finals in world-class style."[br /][br /][twitter ID="611954249245691904" /][br /][twitter ID="611973465894055936" /][br /][twitter ID="611923345903218688" /][br /][twitter ID="611928495157985280" /][br /][twitter ID="611955894994100224" /][br /][br /]The team won 105-97 in the Game 6 clincher Tuesday night.[br /][br /]Shortly after noon Friday, Oakland police responded to reports that three men had been shot blocks away from the rally site. The victims, whose identities were not immediately released, are in stable condition.[br /][br /]Police did not yet have a motive in the shooting. It was not clear if the shooting was connected to the parade or rally.[br /][br /]The procession of floats wound through the city, leading to public transit delays and road closures. People stood six deep in some areas just for a chance to spot a favorite player.[br /][br /]As soon as the parade ended, a rally started at the city's convention center.[br /][br /]David Fort, 38, of East Palo Alto planned to be at the rally with his son and daughter. "I love Golden State," he said before the rally.[br /][br /]His 10-year-old son Anthony didn't mind leaving the house before dawn because Curry is his favorite player, he said. "He's so good," Anthony said. "He's like a god of 3-pointers."[br /][br /]The rally came in a city that has been plagued by a number of problems. Violent protests over police shootings thrust Oakland into the national spotlight late last year. It been ranked as one of the nation's most dangerous cities for many years, and the police department has been under a 13-year court-mandated police reform program.[br /][Ads /][br /][b][url HREF="http://abc7ne.ws/1HVcMH6" TARGET="" REL=""]Click here[/url] for full coverage on the Golden State Warriors victory parade and rally. [/b][br /][url HREF="http://abc7ne.ws/1FsA8Oj" TARGET="" REL=""]Click here[/url] to relive some of the best moments from the Warriors victory rally.[br /][br /][b][url HREF="http://abc7ne.ws/1GQkzFj" TARGET="" REL=""]PHOTOS: Warriors return to Oakland as NBA champs[/url][/b][br /][post ID="791412" /][br /][br /][b][url HREF="http://abc7ne.ws/18JjAsJ" TARGET="" REL=""]PHOTOS: Golden State Warriors fans 2015[/url][/b][br /][post ID="561837" /][br /][br /][facebook URL="https://www.facebook.com/abc7news/videos/10153422210717079/?permPage=1" /][br /][br /][facebook URL="https://www.facebook.com/abc7news/photos/a.154843737078.141791.57427307078/10153420492252079/?type=1&theater" /][br /][br /][b][url HREF="http://abc7ne.ws/1Gmt1hg" TARGET="" REL=""]PHOTOS: Behind the scene of the NBA Finals[/url][/b][br /][post ID="763537" /][br /][br /][b][url HREF="http://abc7ne.ws/1O3myLG" TARGET="" REL=""]PHOTOS: Golden State Warriors NBA playoffs 2015[/url][/b]][br /][post ID="667394" /]n