As I think about this third anniversary of the mass shooting that occurred at our Tops Friendly Market on Jefferson Ave in 2022, I cannot help but think about the history of our great city.
First, I think of the Irish immigrants who, a little under two hundred years ago, were blamed for a plague that took the lives of hundreds of other Buffalonians. I am reminded of how some Buffalo residents fought to push them far away from the rest of the population and how, even today, a portion of our city, South Buffalo, is known for its mostly-Irish Heritage. That segregation continued as more and more immigrants came to our city.
Then I thought about the redlining that occurred by some of our banks—intentional and deliberate policies to keep people out. This culminated with whole populations of people being disenfranchised and segregated based on race. To this day, we do not have Black owned banks, grocery stores, or hotels in Buffalo. One’s zip code seems to determine access to quality education, transportation, and healthcare. Ultimately, average lifespans are ten years lower in certain parts of the city, as compared to wealthier (and often whiter) areas.
And when a young white man decided to take the lives of our community members while they shopped for food, he looked at zip codes to ensure that the people shopping at that Tops were likely to be Black.
As a community, we continue to lament and grapple with this senseless violence and loss of life. But, where to we go from here?
Three years later, what has changed?
As I try to answer this question for myself, I am reminded of something else—Sunday morning. I think that it is within those pews and from behind those pulpits where we will find the keys to a city we all deserve. A city that is welcoming, a city that denies “zero-sum” thinking and a city that fights for a future that everyone can access. A city full of people who love their neighbors, no matter the color of their skin, their nationality, or their creed.
God, today we are thinking about the community members we have lost. That should not have happened. We cannot make sense of it and we still feel the pain as if it were just yesterday. Move us toward each other. Teach us how to appreciate differences, respect each other’s inherent dignity, and work together for your glory. We know that you care deeply about the downtrodden, the marginalized, and the hurting. Help us love our neighbors and give us the strength to heal.
-Charley Fisher
Mr. Fisher is our Faith Based Community Development Manager. He has held a long and successful career in public service and even served as a Buffalo City Council Member. His work at Jericho Road not only involves working with churches to support and collaborate on shared goals, but he also serves our patients as a member of our Spiritual Care team. When a patient comes to Jericho Road for an appointment, they are offered a spiritual care session with Charley or someone else on the team.
