Vigils held in Buffalo and Rochester for Tops mass shooting victims, more planned

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — In Rochester, dozens gathered for a candlelight vigil to honor the 10 people killed in Buffalo in a mass shooting on Saturday, May 14.

They gave a voice to the anger so many feel over the racist ideologies that drove the attack that targeted black people.

Free the People Roc organized the vigil to take a stand against hate and gun violence.

The people who came out to the Tops on West Avenue Tuesday night said they want to put an end to white supremacy and spread love.

"They’re not going to cause fear in our community," one attendee told us. "We stand with Buffalo, surrounding communities to do the necessary work, to hold each other accountable, to bring back community."

Meanwhile, in Buffalo, a memorial and vigil outside the Jefferson Avenue Tops in Buffalo has been happening all day Tuesday.

The parking lot was filled with people Tuesday night wanting to take care of each other, grieve together and uplift the community.

"Our family shops at this grocery store so we had to be here for our people," said Pastor Joyce Badger. "We had to be here for our community because 10 innocent people were murdered."

Many of the people News10NBC talked to told us they plan to be out there every day for as long as it takes for the community to heal.

Several Rochester area about a dozen Christian faith leaders stood in solidarity Wednesday gathered in front of the Tops on West Avenue in Rochester again to say "we should no longer tolerate this act of violence that has come our way" and pray for the families of the victims.

Powerhouse Kingdom Cathedral Rochester’s Bishop Jeffrey Melvin our communities will not be terrorized.

"We’re not going to be stymied," Melvin said. "We’re not going to be bullied. We’re going to live our lives. We are going to keep loving. We’re not going to start a race war, and all that type of foolishness because it’s not in our hearts."

Monroe County Executive Adam Bello, Rochester Mayor Malik Evans and Rev. Jonathan McReynolds held a "We Stand With Buffalo" a vigil for peace on Wednesday night at Aenon Missionary Baptist Church on Genesee Street in Rochester.