Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the topic of my Special Order in the Record. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening…
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the topic of my Special Order in the Record.
Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening to mark the solemn anniversary of the racist mass shooting in Buffalo, New York.
On this day 2 years ago, good people who simply made an afternoon stop at a grocery store were gunned down in broad daylight--10 innocent lives stolen from friends, families, and our community.
It is important that their names continue to live on in our hearts and in the Record: Celestine Chaney, Roberta A. Drury, Andre Mackniel, Katherine Massey, Margus D. Morrison, Heyward Patterson, Aaron Salter, Jr., Geraldine Talley, Ruth Whitfield, and Pearl Young.
The perpetrator was not from the City of Good Neighbors. This racist white supremacist intentionally came to our community and targeted the only grocery store in a predominantly Black neighborhood.
Every western New Yorker remembers the first phone call we received, the horror as we realized the full extent of what had happened, and then the heartbreak of burying people whose lives were taken simply for the color of their skin.
It has changed Buffalo forever, but rather than divide us, the people of Buffalo came together, as we often do during the toughest of times, embracing one another and championing change. We prayed together. We fed our Cold Springs neighbors who were forced into a food desert with the closing of their only grocery store. We rallied for change.
My dear friend and now a Buffalo councilwoman, Zeneta Everhart, nearly lost her son, Zaire Goodman, that day. Zaire worked at Tops. He was just doing his job, helping a customer, when a bullet entered his neck. He fell to the ground. When the shooter moved on, he was able to escape and place the most terrifying phone call of his mother's life. Miraculously, by the grace of God, Zaire is alive and thriving today.
I had the privilege of joining Zeneta as she traveled right here to Washington and testified before Congress, refusing to hold back details as she explained the horror of what had happened to Zaire and the other victims. Zeneta gave powerful testimony, along with former Fire Commissioner Garnell Whitfield, whose 86-year-old mother was murdered right in front of Zaire when he was carrying her groceries to her car for her.
Zeneta and Garnell were supported in their testimony by the families of the other Buffalo victims. For the first time in 30 years, Congress acted, passing the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.
Still, in the 2 years since the Buffalo tragedy, senseless mass shootings have continued throughout the Nation. More cities and families have endured the pain of burying their loved ones due to gun violence.
We need to do better. That means passing Representative McBath's Assault Weapons Ban of 2023, Representative Clyburn's Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2023, Representative Fitzpatrick's Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2023, Representative Meng's Aaron Salter, Jr., Responsible Body Armor Possession Act, Representative Krishnamoorthi's Hate Crimes Commission Act, Representative Bowman's resolution condemning the great replacement theory, and Representative Schiff's Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act of 2023, just to name a few.
This package represents commonsense legislation that rejects hate and will help keep weapons of war out of the hands of dangerous individuals.
Public safety is not a partisan issue. Mass murders like the one that happened in Buffalo have happened in red States and blue States, cities and suburbs, farming communities, schools, churches, synagogues, mosques, and grocery stores all across this Nation. It shouldn't happen at all.
Further action is needed, and it is long overdue. We must find common
ground to stop the pain felt by our community in Buffalo, and so many other communities across this Nation.
Buffalo and western New York will continue to persevere as we always do.
These past few days have been a roller coaster of emotions, to say the least, as we relive these awful moments of 2 years ago today and continue down the path of honoring and remembering the lives that were lost.
On Monday, just yesterday, we unveiled the final design for the 5/14 Memorial that will be built in Buffalo.
It is an amazing concept, and it will serve as a permanent testament to the character of our city and the beautiful commemoration of the victims of this hate crime.
It features 10 interconnected pillars, each inscribed with the names of the victims and survivors, each one unique in its arc and height, reflective of the uniqueness and irreplaceability of each of the victims, and it will feature a new building to serve as a gathering place to bring the community together, to unite us.
When it is completed, I hope my colleagues will join me to visit this moving space, this memorial, to gain a greater understanding for the loss that we have experienced and perhaps a greater commitment to preventing future tragedies.
Following the shooting, an impromptu memorial sprung up at the corner of Jefferson and Landon Streets. The corner was filled with flowers, toys, photos, candles, cards, and much more. Much of that was archived at the Buffalo History Museum to make way for a permanent honor space.
Today, that space at the Tops on Jefferson was dedicated, permanently commemorating the lives that were lost at that location, ensuring that the supermarket, already a neighborhood landmark, becomes a living memorial.
As we honor these beautiful souls, it is important that we take a moment to thank the brave first responders who got there almost immediately that day to secure the scene, tend to the wounded, and prevent more bloodshed.
The Buffalo Police Department had the suspect in custody within 6 minutes of the first 911 call. However, because of the weapons of war that this terrorist had, he was able to inflict horrible damage in a very short amount of time.
These 10 people taken from us 2 years ago today aren't just statistics. They were mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, friends, and leaders in our community.
I will take a moment to talk about each of them. Pearl Young. Pearl Young was 77 years old. Pearl was a native of Fayette, Alabama, coming to Buffalo following her marriage to Oliver Young, Jr., in 1967.
She was a substitute teacher, a Sunday school teacher, and an active member of the Church of God in Christ where she helped to run the food pantry for a quarter of a century.
She was the loving mother of James, Pamela, and Damon; sister of Annie Ruth Winston and Jean Craig; grandmother to 10; great-grandmother to 7; and beloved by countless nieces and nephews.
Ruth Whitfield. Ruth Whitfield was 86 years old. She was a long-time parishioner at Durham Memorial AME Zion Church where she sang in the choir.
She was a devoted wife, caring for her husband and soulmate, Garnell Whitfield of 68 years, nearly every day for 8 years in a nursing home, everything from clipping his nails to doing his laundry and, of course, visiting him on a daily basis.
She left behind her husband, Garnell Whitfield, Sr.; her children, Robin Harris, former Buffalo Fire Commissioner, Garnell Whitfield, Jr., Angela Crawley, and Raymond Whitfield; nine grandchildren; eight great- grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; and numerous extended family.
Margus D. Morrison. Margus Morrison was 52 years old, one of three brothers, and graduated from Bennett High School in 1990.
Margus was a bus aide for Buffalo Public Schools' Stanley Makowski Early Childhood Center. His colleagues remembered him as punctual, reliable, and filled with a wonderful sense of humor.
When he was killed, he was out buying Saturday evening dinner for his family.
Margus Morrison left behind his six beloved children and his adored companion of the last 25 years, Regina Patterson.
Andre Mackniel. Andre Mackniel was 53 years old and a brother to seven siblings. He was a Buffalo native, attended South Park High School.
He loved basketball, playing guitar, writing poetry, listening to music, and, of course, spending time with his family, including his fiance, Tracey Maciulewicz.
He was the adoring father to his five children: Shawanda Rogers, Andrea Beckman, LeAdrea Elliott, Deja Brown, and Andre Mackniel, Jr., known affectionately as A.J. When Andre was murdered, he was out buying a birthday cake for A.J.'s third birthday.
He also left behind eight siblings; brothers, Vyonne James Elliott, Marcus Elliott, Malik Elliott, and Jimmy Elliott; sisters, Andre'Anna Unique Porter, Rose White, Darlissa Elliott, and Marshett Elliott; three grandchildren; numerous aunts and uncles; nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Aaron Salter, Jr. Lieutenant Aaron Salter, Jr., was 55 years old. He died a hero, delaying the shooter and giving more people precious seconds to escape. He saved lives that day.
Lieutenant Salter was a retired Buffalo police officer working that day as an armed security guard. When the shooter walked in, armed with an AR-15-style rifle and clad in body armor, Lieutenant Salter didn't hesitate.
He opened fire, hitting the target, but because of the shooter's body armor, he was unharmed and fired back, killing Lieutenant Salter.
After Lieutenant Salter retired from the Buffalo Police Department in 2018, he began working as a security guard at Tops where he would engage with customers and employees, making everyone feel safe, seen, and appreciated.
He was the son of Carol and Aaron Salter, Sr.; husband to Kimberly; adoring father to Latisha Slaughter, Aaron Salter III, and Tanya Salter.
Lieutenant Salter also leaves behind a sister, Cashell Durham; nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and his beloved pets.
Geraldine Talley. Geraldine Talley, known as Gerri to her friends and family, was 62 years old. She was a native of Grove Hill, Alabama, moving to Buffalo in 1971 with her family.
She earned her degree in secretarial science from Bryant & Stratton College, eventually working for a nonprofit, assisting people with mental illness and related substance abuse issues.
She was famous for her love of baking and for sharing her creations with others. Her specialty was banana pudding cakes.
When she was at Tops, she was shopping for a few ingredients for her weekly waterfront picnic with her fiance.
She left behind her children, Genicia Smith and Mark Talley, Jr., a stepdaughter, Marquish Jacobs; three sisters and one brother; her beloved fiance, Gregory Allen; and numerous family and friends.
Katherine Massey. Katherine Massey, known to many simply as Kat, was 72 years old. Kat worked for 40 years for Blue Cross Blue Shield and was always committed to the betterment of our community.
She worked to educate kids on healthy diets, to rid our Nation of gun violence, and to beautify her neighborhood.
In fact, she was a long-time campaigner against gun violence, founding We are Women Warriors with her beloved friends Betty Jean Grant and Dr. Eva Doyle.
She was a regular contributor to the Buffalo Challenger and the Buffalo Criterion. Kat was also an active resident in Buffalo's Fruit Belt neighborhood, helping to form a block club and successfully lobbying for the creation of a new public park on her home street of Cherry Street.
She was survived by her dear siblings, Barbara Mapps and Warren Massey; as well as her adored nieces and nephews: Adrienna Massey, Damone Mapps, Damien Mapps, Darrale, Demetrius, and Dawn Massey; numerous great-nieces and nephews and one great-great niece.
Roberta A. Drury. Roberta Drury was 32 years old. She was originally from
Cicero, New York, and attended Cicero-North Syracuse High School.
It was her love for family that brought her to Buffalo, relocating to our community to help care for her brother who was recovering from his battle with leukemia. Her greatest passion was family, highlighted by their annual trips to Wildwood, New Jersey.
She was survived by her dear mother, Leslie VanGiesen; father, Philip Drury; grandfather, John Traeger; her beloved siblings, Christopher Moyer, Daniel Moyer, Amanda Drury, Nicole VanGiesen, and Brett VanGiesen; as well as numerous aunts, uncles, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Heyward Patterson. Heyward Patterson was 67 years old. He was in his truck waiting for a friend he drove to Tops to pick up groceries, something he did often.
He was a deacon at the State Tabernacle Church of God in Christ in Buffalo located on Glenwood Avenue, reflecting his devotion and faith in God.
According to his fellow churchgoers, Deacon Patterson was often the first one to arrive and the last to leave.
He helped open and close the church, clean, shovel, and he volunteered in every capacity, including in the church's soup kitchen, Plate of Love Ministry.
He is survived by his three children, Diona, Schrita, and Jake; his beloved wife, Tirzah; as well as his parents, siblings, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and many more.
Celestine Chaney was 65 years old. When she was killed, she was out purchasing ingredients for strawberry shortcake for her family. She was a fighter, surviving three aneurysms and breast cancer.
Celestine was a graduate of Fosdick Masten Girls Vocational High School, where she learned to sew, later attending Bryant & Stratton College for business administration.
She worked at several large manufacturers, including M. Wile and New Era Cap. She attended Elim Christian Fellowship Church in Buffalo.
She was survived by her beloved partner and fiance, Raymond Johnson; her only son, Wayne Donell Jones; nine grandchildren, Wayne Donell Jones, Jr., Kayla Jones, Charon Reed, Chayna Jones, Donell Jones, Nasir Jones, Dominique Brown, Latifa Johnson, and Latoya Baugh; nine great- grandchildren; one sister, Joann Daniel; and a host of nieces and nephews.
To conclude my remarks, Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues and those in the gallery join me in a moment of silence on behalf of the beautiful souls who were stolen from the city of Buffalo 2 years ago today, on May 14, 2022.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Clyburn), the sponsor of the Enhanced Background Checks Act.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.