[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 83 (Tuesday, May 14, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H3197-H3199]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          MARKING SOLEMN ANNIVERSARY OF BUFFALO MASS SHOOTING

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 9, 2023, the Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York (Mr. 
Kennedy) for 30 minutes.


                             General Leave

  Mr. KENNEDY. 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.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. KENNEDY. 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

[[Page H3198]]

ground to stop the pain felt by our community in Buffalo, and so many 
other communities across this Nation.

                              {time}  2045

  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

[[Page H3199]]

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.

                              {time}  2100

  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. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, as we mark the second anniversary of the tragic events 
that unfolded on May 14, 2022, at the Tops supermarket in Buffalo, New 
York, it is a solemn reminder of the devastating impact of hate-fueled 
violence. This is not just an attack on innocent individuals but an 
assault on the very fabric of the Buffalo community.
  A self-professed white supremacist targeted the Tops supermarket and 
drove more than 200 miles to get there because of its location in a 
predominantly Black community. His actions took 10 precious lives. They 
were sons, daughters, parents, and friends whose absences continue to 
be felt deeply.
  The pain New Yorkers feel is known all too well by us down in South 
Carolina. In 2015, a white supremacist walked into the Mother Emanuel, 
the oldest African-American Methodist church in the South.
  Dylann Roof targeted that church because of its historical 
significance. He worshipped with them. He prayed with them. He was 
welcomed into their Bible study with open arms. He repaid that kindness 
by opening fire on the innocent group of worshippers, killing nine.
  These horrific acts must serve as a stark reminder of the dangerous 
consequences of online radicalization, racism, and the all too easy 
access to weapons of war.
  The Buffalo shooter's online writings praised Roof's actions. 
Although he obtained his weapon legally, the shooter made illegal 
modifications to make it much more deadly.
  In the case of Mother Emanuel AME Church, a simple background check 
could have helped to prevent the tragedy. Roof never should have been 
allowed to buy a gun, but a deadly loophole in our Federal laws allowed 
him to do just that. If the required background checks process takes 
more than 3 business days, the Charleston loophole allows firearms to 
be transferred to buyers before the process is complete. That is how 
Roof was able to get a gun.
  I have introduced legislation to close the Charleston loophole, which 
the gentleman from New York has joined as a cosponsor. I thank him for 
that. That only solves one piece of the puzzle.
  Our communities have emerged from these tragedies stronger than ever, 
but white supremacy is the scourge on our society that we must confront 
head-on. We must join together to push back against the harmful 
ideologies that tear us apart.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Kennedy for his leadership.
  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

                          ____________________