BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — New York Governor Kathy Hochul was in Buffalo on Monday and joined Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown and the 5/14 Memorial Commission to unveil "Seeing Us," the final design of the permanent memorial to honor the victims of the racially motivated mass shooting at the Tops Friendly Markets on Jefferson Avenue in Buffalo on May 14, 2022.
“Seeing Us,” designed by Jin Young Song and Douglass Alligood, was chosen from 20 submissions and was one of three finalists.
WATCH: 'Building a better future': Finalists present their designs to 5/14 Memorial Commission
“All in favor?” Rev. Mark Blue asked. “Aye,” replied all commission members who were present.
Members of Buffalo's 5/14 Memorial Commission voted unanimously Monday morning to select the design. The Commission worked with the families of those killed and injured in the mass shooting and chose the final design with their input.
Buffalo’s 5/14 Memorial Commission has selected “Seeing Us” design. @WKBW https://t.co/GQYi9tcZ90 pic.twitter.com/d0GFg3ROwm
— Eileen Buckley (@eileenwkbw) May 13, 2024
The design was then unveiled to the public at the Apollo Theater on Jefferson Avenue, just up the street from the Tops Market.
“I'm proud to unveil the final design of the permanent 5/14 Memorial to honor the victims of this tragedy. keep their memories alive and help this community heal,” declared Governor Hochul.
"The final design proposes ten interconnected pillars, inscribed with the names of victims and survivors, each with a unique arc and height, faced with stone. It also features a sweeping support building which operates as a central hub for education, exhibitions, community activities, gatherings, and events. Visitors will also find an elevated Memorial Walk on the roof of the support building," the governor's office said.
A powerful video was shown and delivered an emotional experience of what the 5/14 Memorial will look like.
“This tragedy has brought us together in more ways than one. I'm so proud of our city and our community. Not one car was flipped. not one window was broken. not one fight ensued. but what it did -- it galvanized us to action,” said Rev. Mark Blue, chairman, 5/14 Memorial Commission.
Mayor Byron Brown, saying he hopes the memorial will offer a "sense of healing, peace, and hope."
“I am confident that the 5/14 Memorial Commission will create a fitting memorial to honor the precious lives that were lost and the many others that were impacted on that day. We will never forget,” stated Mayor Brown.
The permanent memorial is expected to cost nearly $15 million. New York State will provide $5 million and the City of Buffalo will provide $1 million. The governor's office said the Commission will begin a fundraising campaign to raise the remaining funds needed to break ground.
A fundraising committee, with a group of well-known heavy hitters in Buffalo, has been named:
- Eunice Lewin, SUNY Trustee
- Jonathan Dandes, Rich Products
- Dottie Gallagher, president & CEO, Buffalo Niagara Partnership
- Michael Edbauer president. Highmark Western & Northeastern New York
"They really were extremely considerate of everyone who's been impacted,” Fragrance Harris Stanfield remarked.
Fragrance Harris Stanfield survived the Tops mass shooting with her daughter and is a member of the 5/14 Memorial Commission.
“It's going to be more than just 5/14 itself, but also different factors and systematic things that lead up to something like this being able to happen,” Harris Stanfield replied.
I also asked Garnell Whitfield, who lost his mother Ruth in the racist shooting, and is also a member of the commission, how he feels about the design.
"Let’s be very clear. It's not going to bring my mother back. it's not going to take the place of our loved ones. It's not going to undo all of the damage that's been done in our community generationally, but it does represent hope for a better day,” responded Whitfield. “But it does represent hope for a better day. It does represent the planting of a seed within this community that will hopefully bear fruit that future generations will not have to go through what we went through what our loved ones went through.”
Governor Hochul says watching the video featuring the future design hit her “really hard."
“It just hit me hard, and I really want this to be a place that people will come to it is their place, but others will learn about the terrorism that lurks among us. this was domestic terrorism, raw domestic terrorism,” reflected Hochul.
Rev. Blue says the commission has not decided yet on a permanent location, but they could make an announcement shortly.
“We are still searching. We have some ideas, but we have to work through that process and hopefully, within the coming days, coming weeks, we will make that announcement for where the memorial will be placed. But we are still working through that process,” Rev. Blue noted.
Mayor Brown offered a very brief bit of information on future location.
“And it will be at a location where it will overlook the community, where these precious lives, and what they meant to the community will be able to overlook the community so incredibly powerful and really reflected how raw the emotion still is around what happened to our community,” Brown said.
As Western New York mourns with the families, 7 News also wishes to honor their memory.
