Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown Saturday stood at the intercestion of Bailey and Manhart in Buffalo and thanked a graduating high school student for his initiative and service to the city in the hours following a protest turned violent in Buffalo earlier this month.
The story of Antonio Gwynn, Jr. has gone viral and made national headlines and brings to life the actions of a young man who wouldn't stand for violence in his neighborhood and jumped to action to clean up after demonstrations turned ugly along Baley Avenue.
18-year old Gwynn was formally thanked and commended by Mayor Brown Saturday for being an inspiring example to the Buffalo community after he immediately jumped into actionin the early hours of June 2nd, spending the next ten hours cleaning up a stretch of Bailey Avenue that was covered in glass and garbage.
.@MayorByronBrown taking time on a Saturday to thank Antonio Gwynn Jr. by offering him a job with the city upon formal HS graduation. Gwynn took to Bailey Ave after unrest in the streets to clean up his neighborhood. pic.twitter.com/TM3hLDXnvE
— WBEN NewsRadio 930AM (@NewsRadio930)
June 13, 2020 Mayor Brown thought it was important to highlight the actions of Gwynn, saying, "The vast majority of young black people are like Antonio Gwynn, Jr., they care about their community, they work hard."
Gwynn's actions caught the attention of Medaille College where he's been offered a four year scholarship and Mayor Brown is promising to offer Gwynn a job with the city upon his formal graduation from high school.
“I’m actually pretty excited because I didn’t have an actual plan, but now this is helping me put more of my life ahead,” Gwynn told reporters after being recognized at a city ceremony.
"That is the people's property," added Brown.
As tents were being set up Friday night, demonstrators accidentially toppled a light pole and one protester suffered a minor injury as a result.
.@MayorByronBrown confirms the @BPDAlerts has been working with demonstrators in Niagara Square and has asked them to take down their tents and welcomed continued peaceful protesting. pic.twitter.com/5RFkxQEAid
— WBEN NewsRadio 930AM (@NewsRadio930)
June 13, 2020
