NEW ORLEANS // Some had their hair wrapped in side buns. Some wielded lightsabres and the dress code embraced everything from Wookiees to storm troopers. They may not have come from a galaxy far, far, away but thousands turned out on the streets of New Orleans to pay tribute to the late Carrie Fisher, the actress famous for her role as Princess Leia in the Star Wars films.
In New Orleans, where death is marked by both mourning and merriment, the Mardi Gras group called the Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus organised a parade in honour of the woman they regard as royalty.
“This is a public demonstration of our love for Princess Leia,” said Brooke Ethridge, one of the founders of the Leijorettes, a dancing group made up of fans who dress like Princess Leia. “Our first instinct was to hit the streets and parade and celebrate Princess Leia and Carrie Fisher.”
The parade was led by the Leijorettes, followed by a brass band playing the Star Wars theme as the throng walked behind them. Hundreds more fans lined the street.
“I didn’t know her. But as an iconic character and as a person, a writer and a smart, funny, fantastic woman and role model, I was heartbroken and devastated,” Dale Hrebrik said.
Fisher died on Tuesday, aged 60, four days after falling ill aboard a plane on December 23. As the tough-talking Princess Leia, Fisher defied the evil empire with a rich store of put-downs, such as, “Into the garbage chute, flyboy.” In life, her wit was no less devastating.
Chewbacchus is dedicated to all things sci-fi and fantasy-related and has always drawn inspiration from the Star Wars films. The group’s logo features the head of Chewbacca, the furry Wookiee who was Han Solo’s close friend and co-pilot.
But even in a crowd very much dominated by Princess Leia, many also pointed out the contributions Fisher had made even after her Star Wars acting wound down, speaking openly about her struggles with mental illness as a bipolar disorder sufferer.
Though Jacquelyn Ryan came to the parade with her hair styled in Priness Leia side buns, she said she was more impressed with Fisher’s activism in the field of mental heath.
“Probably my first introduction to her was Star Wars, but she as a person was really important. Her activism, her mental-health awareness, her activism for women, her unapologetic attitude about youth and beauty in Hollywood really spoke to me,” Ms Ryan said.
Fisher’s mother, the film star Debbie Reynolds, died a day after her daughter. The family is reportedly organising a joint funeral.
* Associated Press