May 14, the 2nd Anniversary of the Tops Shooting: My Story
Part 1
This Columnist did not get the opportunity to at tend the various observances that were held on Tues day, May 14th for the victims of the Tops Massacre. First of all, I would like to congratulate my friend and my hairdresser, Valeria Cray and her son, Hiram Cray, for their beautiful sculpture in memory of the ten victims of the Tops shooting. Valeria and her son are talented and creative artists.
The sculpture features purple metal pillars that represents each person killed. There are three gold pillars that represent those who were injured. Valeria is a past recipient of the Roses for Outstanding Women Award. She is very active and one of the founders of 50 Women with a Vision. This group has championed events to help to bring people together on Jefferson Avenue and the surrounding community.
The sculpture created by Valeria and her son was un veiled on Tuesday. This is part of the newly constructed 5/14 Tops Honor Space. The Honor Space also includes a pear tree gifted to Buffalo through the 9/11 Memorial and Museum’s Survivor Tree Seedling Program. The event was attended by city, state, and federal elected officials, community members, and an official from the White House, with a letter from President Joe Biden ex pressing condolences and words of remembrance of this tragedy.
Mayor Byron W. Brown spoke just before the ringing of the bells for each of the victims. There was music, poetry by our new poet laureate, and a heartfelt song by vocalist Karen Saxton. The president of Tops market re newed the commitment of Tops to remain and serve the community. Even with all of the attention shown by vari ous groups, there are still people who do not feel com fortable going to Tops. This is understandable with all of the pain and hurt caused by a white supremacist and his brutal attack on innocent people just because of the color of their skin.
I did go down the next day to visit the Honor Space created at the corner of Jefferson and Landon. It was quiet. The media has gone. The elected officials have gone. My thoughts are that the area media seemed to want to outdo each other in covering this event. That bothered me a great deal. The elected officials have gone. People were hurrying by going about their business. A small crowd of people were standing around the sculp ture taking pictures. Colorful balloons were placed around the sculpture and a few people were sitting quietly by. It was just another day.
I sat by thinking about what happened. The day be fore I turned my lights on in memory of those who lost their lives in this horrible tragedy. I turned them on again the next day. It was my way of paying tribute to the best of our citizens who lost their lives on that fateful day. I also read the chapter that I wrote in my latest book re membering them who were the “best of us.” I listed ev eryone of them in the book. Ten killed and three injured are in my book forever!! Never forget them. Say their names. They will be in our hearts forever. Remember: Margus Morrison, Pearl Young, Deacon Heyward Patterson, Katherine Massey, Ruth Whitfield, Celestine Chaney, Andre McNeil, Geraldine Talley, Roberta Drury, Aaron Salter, and those injured: Zaire Goodman, Jenni fer Warrington, and Christopher Braden.
Stay tuned to part 2 for my article that will discuss where I was on May 14, 2022 and some background to it.