5/21/22 Buffalo N.Y. - Cher Desi sharing her story of her mother, Ruth Whitfield, one of 10 who lost their lives in the Jefferson Avenue shooting.
Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - It was a somber, but optimistic day for the City of Buffalo on Saturday, just one week after the mass shooting on Jefferson Avenue that took the lives of 10 people.
Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown led the community in 123 seconds of collective reflection on the steps of Buffalo City Hall to honor the lives lost and three injured in the horrific racially motivated hate crime.
13 faint, but distinct chimes in the distance could be heard from City Hall, one for each of the 13.
123 seconds from the period of 2:28:57 p.m. to 2:31:00 p.m. represents that time it took for the 18-year-old shooter to carry out his plan of action.
"Today, we remember the precious lives lost in the 'City of Good Neighbors'," said Mayor Brown on Saturday. We continue to rally around each other and lift each other up as one community, one Buffalo. Our open hearts and strong faith is showing the nation and world how we are helping each other heal through inter through in intentional acts of love and support. We are demonstrating that hateful, racist actions and speech will never be tolerated here and must not be tolerated anywhere."
On Jefferson Avenue, people came from all over the country to pay respects, educate themselves and reflect in prayer.
Community outreach programs are still present, offering foods and services to the community.
Tops has a shuttle service sign on the corner of the street, signaling that a shuttle service is made available daily from 10 a.m ET to 7 p.m. ET, giving the community of this "food desert" a temporary free route to get groceries at the Tops on Elmwood Avenue.
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Next to the Tops shuttle shop was a small stage of people sharing song and their stories. Cher Desi - daughter of 86-year-old Ruth Whitfield, one of the 10 who lost their lives - shared with the community a tear-inducing recounting of the last words she heard from her mother.
"I'll never forget my mother's last words: 'How's everything down there?How's the kids? How's Nick? Okay, tell them hi. Love you. Bye'," recalled Desi.
"There's not a moment that goes by that I don't hear her voice in my head, and see her face in front of me. I plan to use that to overpower the hate with love and spread that message that this neighborhood can come together. We can be strong again, we must speak up. Don't be complacent, get out of your comfort zone. I did. I'm here and I want to make sure that all of you do the same."