Commemorating the four-year Anniversary of the shooting at Tops Friendly Markets in Buffalo, New York, on May 14, 2026, and honoring the victims, survivors, families, and community at large in its wake

Assembly Resolution No. 1370

BY: M. of A. Peoples-Stokes

        COMMEMORATING  the  four-year  Anniversary  of the
        shooting at Tops Friendly Markets  in  Buffalo,  New
        York,  on  May  14,  2026, and honoring the victims,
        survivors, families, and community at large in  wake
        of this devastating tragedy

  WHEREAS, The very principles of American freedom, and the safety and
security  of  every  American  at home and abroad were challenged by the
unspeakable atrocities committed in the East Side of  Buffalo  during  a
sunny  afternoon  on  Saturday,  May  14,  2022, at a Tops grocery store
located on historic Jefferson Ave; and

  WHEREAS, As we mark the  four-year  anniversary  of  this  senseless
massacre, the Greater Buffalo community is conducting an array of events
to honor those who lost their lives and to uplift the community; and

  WHEREAS, Furthermore, as we remember this horrific day, we honor the
10  innocent people who were killed: Roberta A. Drury, Geraldine Talley,
Celestine Chaney, Katherine Massey, Pearl Young, Ruth Whitfield,  Margus
D.  Morrison,  Andre  Mackneil,  retired Buffalo Police Lieutenant Aaron
Salter, and Heyward Patterson; and

  WHEREAS, In addition,  we  honor  the  injured  survivors:  Jennifer
Warrington,  Zaire Goodman, and Christopher Braden, and many non-injured
survivors throughout the community; and

  WHEREAS, The May 14th Memorial Commission  was  established  by  the
Governor  of  the State of New York and former Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown
to combat racism in all forms and work towards a future where hatred and
bigotry are a thing of the past; the Commission, led  by  Buffalo  NAACP
President  Reverend Mark Blue, will have a leading role in uplifting the
East Buffalo community; and

  WHEREAS, The  Commission's  vision  is  to  build  the  5/14  Living
Memorial    and    Healing    Center    into   a   lasting   symbol   of
restoration-honoring memory, advancing healing, and shaping  a  national
model  for how communities can respond to tragedy with purpose, dignity,
and hope; and

  WHEREAS, The Buffalo Together Community Response  Fund  (BTCRF)  was
formed  in  the  aftermath  of  the  racially-motivated  killing to work
towards  a  more  just  and  equitable   community,   initially   as   a
collaboration  of  14  local funding organizations, raising $6.3 million
and providing emergency response grants in the  immediate  aftermath  of
the  tragedy  totaling  $655,000  to  86  community-based  organizations
serving the East Side with the remaining  $6.1  million  designated  for
creating  a  long-term community investment strategy to address systemic
issues on the East Side; and

  WHEREAS, For all New Yorkers, the images of this  horrific  domestic
act of terrorism rekindles heartbreaking memories and causes us to pause
and reflect on our daily lives; and

  WHEREAS,  The very heart and soul of America was once more shaken to
its core, and this tragedy stands as a reminder that such senseless acts
of violence will not destroy the honorable values  that  America  stands
for; and

  WHEREAS,  The  power of human compassion and the strength and spirit
of the American people were revealed in Buffalo as  we  learned  of  the
immediate  and  heroic outpouring of service and concern for the victims
of this act of terrorism and in its aftermath; and

  WHEREAS, This Legislative Body cannot express  sufficient  gratitude
to  those  devoted  first  responders,  including  police officers, Erie
County sheriff's deputies, and FBI agents, as  well  as  paramedics  and
firefighters, who inspire us all by carrying out their sworn duties with
great courage and bravery; and

  WHEREAS,  The  combined and coordinated efforts of these individuals
and their swift response are a testament to  the  spirit  of  unity  and
fellowship  in  the  face  of  adversity which characterizes the best of
America; and

  WHEREAS, The people of the State of  New  York  stand  steadfast  in
their  solidarity  with  Buffalo,  New  York,  honoring all of whom were
victimized by the city's worst mass shooting on Saturday, May 14,  2022,
and  standing  resolute  in  our  obligation to condemn racism, domestic
terrorism, and all forms of hatred; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
commemorate  the  four-year  Anniversary  of  the  mass shooting at Tops
Friendly Supermarkets, and to  extend  to  the  people  of  Buffalo  the
sincerest  best  wishes and heartfelt prayers of all New Yorkers; and be
it further

  RESOLVED, That copies of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted  to  survivors  and families of the victims of this horrific
act of domestic terrorism.