THE BUFFALO COMMUNITY HONORS VICTIMS OF THE TOPS SHOOTING AND CALLS FOR BIG CHANGE

THE BUFFALO COMMUNITY HONORS VICTIMS OF THE TOPS SHOOTING AND CALLS FOR BIG CHANGE

Last Saturday, a white man killed 10 Black shoppers and workers at a supermarket in Buffalo, New York. Federal officials are investigating the shooting as a hate crime; a state-level murder case is already underway.

According to AP News, the gunman was wearing a helmet camera and livestreamed the shooting incident on Twitch. The gaming platform has since removed the video. In the video, he aimed at a white person hiding behind a checkout counter, but said “Sorry!” and didn’t shoot.

Police said the 13 victims, including the wounded, ranged in age from 20 to 86. Most were over age 50.

A community gathering took place in honor of the victims where members of the local community came together to grieve.

“So imagine the incredible fear that Black people have to constantly live in knowing that we could be killed at any moment — while shopping, while laying in our beds, while sitting in a car with your family — because you’re Black,” A member of the community said.

“I’m looking to see not just the Black community heal, but I would like everybody to heal because I think that white supremacy and racism is a sickness,” she said. “And people need to be healed from that.”

The vigil honored the shooting victims while combining stirring gospel music and calls to action. Speakers included local activists, religious leaders and business owners. Many people were still feeling raw just days after the attack. As names of the victims were read aloud, many people in the crowd held each other and cried.