BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Michael Ray, manager of the Groove Lounge at 1210 Broadway, said he wants to help people do the right thing.
He is dedicating his business to serve as a drop-off location for people who may have stolen something, and want to return it.
"Let's give everything back. When you want to protest, protest in the right way. The protest is about change," he said.
Ray said he wants to give people a second chance…no judgment, no questions asked and no police will be involved. He said he will help return those items to their rightful owners.
"It goes to what our race is about. Someone's always doing something against us. So why would we go ahead and do the same thing," he said.
Ray said he stands with protesters, not with people who are looting or vandalizing because that's not the message he wants to spread.
"George Floyd's last words was he can't breathe. And the thing that a lot of frustration in Buffalo, we have been feeling that way - that we can't breathe through a lot of disparities," said Ray.
And he wants those disparities changed, especially he said with the way police treat black people.
"Their reprimand is off-duty but getting paid so it's like a paid vacation...what message are you sending? You're sending [them] on a paid vacation, you do some corruptness? That's not right," said Ray.
The no-questions-asked drop off continues until 8 pm at Groove Lounge.
