Bill Text: NY J00947 | 2023-2024 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Commemorating the one-year Anniversary of the mass shooting at Tops Friendly Markets in Buffalo, New York, on May 14, 2023, and honoring the victims, survivors, families, and community at large

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 42-21)

Status: (Introduced) 2023-05-10 - REFERRED TO FINANCE [J00947 Detail]

Download: New_York-2023-J00947-Introduced.html

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Assembly Resolution No. 439

BY: M. of A. Peoples-Stokes

        COMMEMORATING the one-year Anniversary of the mass
        shooting  at  Tops  Friendly Markets in Buffalo, New
        York, on May 14, 2023,  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 the one-year mark of this senseless massacre approaches,
Buffalo  is  preparing  an array of events to honor those who lost their
lives and to uplift the community, including  "Racism,  Racial  Literacy
and  Mental Health: A Conversation with Dr. Howard Stevenson" on May 11,
2023, at the University of Buffalo; "Beyond Hate," a  panel  discussion,
on  May  12, 2023, at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center; the 5/14
5K and Marathon, sponsored by the Lt. Aaron Salter Memorial  Scholarship
Foundation,  will  begin at 8 a.m. at Canisius College, where Salter had
been a student; and on May 14, 2023,  Mayor  Byron  Brown  will  lead  a
Remembrance at the Tops supermarket, and church bells will chime at 2:28
p.m., the moment the 123-second rampage began; 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, Kathrine 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 survivors:  Jennifer  Warrington,
Zaire Goodman, and Christopher Braden; and

  WHEREAS,  The  May  14th  Memorial  Commission  was  established  by
Governor Kathy Hochul and 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, 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 one-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  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to survivors and families of the victims  of  this  horrific
act of domestic terrorism.