A permanent memorial honoring the 10 Black victims of a racist mass shooting at a Buffalo supermarket has been announced by community and elected leaders. The design, titled 'Seeing Us,' features interconnected stone pillars and arches, along with a windowed building for exhibitions and events.
The memorial was revealed a day before the second anniversary of the tragic attack, which took place at a Tops supermarket on May 14, 2022. The design, created by Jin Young Song and Douglass Alligood, was chosen from 20 submissions to the 5/14 Memorial Commission.
New York state has pledged $5 million towards the $15 million project, with Buffalo contributing $1 million. A fundraising campaign is set to cover the remaining costs.
Gov. Kathy Hochul emphasized the importance of supporting the East Buffalo community, remembering the victims, and aiding the injured as the anniversary approaches.
The shooting claimed the lives of nine shoppers, aged 32 to 86, and a retired Buffalo police officer who was working as a security guard. Three store employees were also wounded in the attack.
Rev. Mark Blue, chairman of the 5/14 Memorial Commission, stated that the victims' families were involved in the design selection process. He expressed the intention to create a memorial that the families and communities can take pride in.
The perpetrator, Payton Gendron, is serving a life sentence without parole after pleading guilty to state charges of murder and hate-motivated domestic terrorism. He faces additional federal charges and a potential death penalty if convicted.
To mark the second anniversary of the tragedy, Tops Friendly Markets will unveil another memorial near the store and observe a moment of silence at 2:28 p.m., the time of the attack.
Buffalo artist Valeria Cray and her son Hiram Cray have crafted a sculpture named 'Unity for the Honor Space' for the memorial site, which also includes 10 granite bollards.
