The racially-motivated shooting at a Tops supermarket on Jefferson Avenue in Buffalo on May 14, 2022, sparked a movement for racial justice not only around Buffalo, but New York state.

An event held by nonprofit Open Buffalo on Monday began by remembering the names and the lives of the 10 people who were killed.

“Aaron Salter. Andrew McNeil. Celestine Chaney. Geraldine Talley. Heyward Patterson. Katherine Massey. Margus D. Morrison. Pearl Young. Roberta A. Drury. Ruth Whitfield,” said Dr. Kush Bhardwaj, director of racial equity and justice, Open Buffalo.

Leadership from Open Buffalo say the protests in 2020 led to the growth of Open Buffalo’s anti-racism initiatives, specifically the development of the group’s Race, Power and Privilege (RPP) anti-racism program.

“RPP seeks to have individuals understand exactly how do we get this way? How did the conditions in 14208 become the Blackest zip code in upstate New York? How did that happen?” said Franchelle Parker, founding executive director, Open Buffalo.

Parker says the program addresses the history of racial injustice in the area and Open Buffalo’s commitment to the training grew deeper after May 14, 2022. Since then, the group has trained more than 1,500 people from across Western New York.

Leaders from other organizations that aim to better Buffalo's East Side, like Every Bottom Covered and Community Services for Every1, also spoke on the importance of equality. Parker says community members are stepping up.

“I do believe, besides how we're funding shifts in institutions, that folks right here in the community, everyday folks that work hard every single day are still saying, ‘I still have something else to offer,’” said Parker.

But Parker would like to see more discussions about environmental justice as well.

“I would love to see community collaboration to support true grassroots efforts to address environmental harms in our community,” said Parker.