Buffalo dedicates park-like area to victims on second anniversary of Tops shooting | Local News

BUFFALO — The city of Buffalo marked the second anniversary of a racist mass shooting that killed 10 Black people Tuesday with the dedication of a memorial space honoring the victims.

Additionally, Niagara Falls was among the state’s landmarks lit up in honor of the victims of Tuesday night’s shooting.

In Buffalo, outside the Tops supermarket targeted in the attack is a sculpture titled “Unity,” which features purple metal pillars representing each person killed. Three golden pillars represent the wounded.

The sculpture by Buffalo artist Valeria Cray and her son, Hiram Cray, is part of the new 5/14 Tops Honor Space, a small park-like space with benches, pillars and gardens.

“It’s still so traumatic,” said Lisa Kragbe, a Buffalo resident, as she sat on a bench in the ceremonial area before a ceremony attended by officials from the city, state and federal government. She said people still have trouble getting into the store, which was renovated after the attack.

Those lost in the May 14, 2022 mass shooting are Pearl Young, Ruth Whitfield, Margus D. Morrison, Andre Mackniel, Aaron Salter Jr., Geraldine Talley, Katherine Massey, Roberta A. Drury, Heyward Patterson and Celestine Chaney. The injured survivors are Zaire Goodman, Jennifer Warrington and Christopher Braden.

Payton Gendron, who is white, is serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole after pleading guilty to charges of murder and hate-motivated domestic terrorism. Gendron, who was 18 when he livestreamed the massacre after driving three hours from his home in Conklin, N.Y., could face the death penalty if convicted of ongoing federal hate crimes. He has pleaded not guilty in this case.

The Honor Space also includes a pear tree donated to Buffalo as part of the 9/11 Memorial & Museum’s Survivor Tree Seedling Program. Seedlings from a tree taken from the rubble of the World Trade Center after 9/11 are sent to communities that embody the spirit of the tree.

A larger memorial for the victims is planned off-site.

Governor Kathy Hochul also announced that progress is being made through community initiatives implemented to address trauma, mental health and emotional well-being in the East Buffalo community. Funded by two federal grants, the “Reimagine: I Am the Change” initiative created a community support network, including several local wellness initiatives; a mobile Black mental health awareness and response team; and a training initiative to increase the number of community members equipped to provide emotional support and psychological first aid in East Buffalo.

“On the two-year anniversary of the horrific Tops attack, our commitment to supporting East Buffalo remains as strong as ever,” Hochul said. “Projects and initiatives launched through “Reimagine: I Am the Change” address service gaps and promote resilience to address systemic inequities and race-based traumatic stress that have negatively impacted this community for decades. »

Administered by the State Office of Mental Health, the “Reimagine: I am the Change” initiative is funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which provided a grant $2.35 million Emergency Response Grant, or SERG. and a $4 million Community Resilience After Stress and Trauma Award, or ReCAST Award. These awards were given in direct response to the racially motivated shooting at Tops Market in East Buffalo, which left 10 people dead, all of whom were Black.

Office of Mental Health Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan added, “These projects and initiatives – each developed with direct input from the East Buffalo community – are tailored to the specific and unique mental health needs of this community. While nothing can erase the pain and suffering inflicted by this tragedy, these grants will result in a stronger, more resilient community.