DAYTON, Ohio – Kanye West hosted a surprise Sunday Service in Ohio in support of those affected by the recent mass shooting.
A large crowd gathered under a huge white tent at the service in RiverScape MetroPark in Dayton, including the star’s wife, Kim Kardashian West, and their two oldest children North, 6, and Saint, 3½. The event featured choir singers and also was attended by comedian Dave Chappelle.
”Listen, we’ve been through a tough time,” Chappelle told the crowd during the hour-and-a-half service, which can be seen at sundayservice.com. “There have been tornadoes, there’s been Klan rallies, there’s been shooting – but we’re still here, we’re still strong. ... The best way that we can honor our fallen is by getting up better than we were before.
”We will not let those people die in vain. They’re our heroes, they’re our martyrs. This is our city.”
He thanked West for turning out: “I love you, brother!”
Since January, West has been leading weekly “Sunday Service” events at various locations in which he performs new arrangements of his old hits with a choir.
Chappelle, who resides in nearby Yellow Springs, hosted a block party and benefit concert later Sunday in Dayton for those affected by the shooting. Organizers of Sunday night’s “Gem City Shine” event said it would be an effort to “reclaim” the entertainment district where Connor Betts’ 32-second rampage killed nine people and left dozens injured on Aug. 4.
