At the New York City AIDS Memorial poets.org/poem/new-york-…

What do you wish for the people in your life who are graduating in these next few days? I treasure the opportunity to celebrate this moment- here's what I wish- for those of you who are graduating and truthfully, for myself-

This thread will be dedicated to the victims of the mass shooting in Buffalo. This is Ruth Whitfield, 86. Her son, the former Buffalo Fire Commissioner, said she was on her way from visiting her husband in a nursing home and stopped at the store to get something to eat.

Aaron Salter Jr. was identified by his son, Aaron Salter III, as the beloved Tops Friendly Markets security guard and former Buffalo cop who tried to stop the shooter. Salter, who joined the Buffalo Police Department right out of high school, leaves behind three children.

Pearl Young, 77, was a mother, grandmother, and key member of her church. For 25 years she fed those in need in the city’s Central Park neighborhood.

Roberta Drury, 32, from Syracuse. She was in Buffalo spending time with family and to help her brother recover from a bone marrow transplant. She leaves behind 3 siblings and her parents.

Celestine Chaney, 65, was a breast cancer survivor with 7 grandkids.

Heyward Patterson, a deacon at his church, would frequently give people rides to and from the Tops supermarket and help them carry their groceries.

Andre Mackniel, a beloved father, brother, uncle and friend. According to his brother, he was at Tops supermarket to buy a birthday cake for his son who just turned 3.

Katherine 'Kat' Massey, 72, was an advocate for civil rights & education in her community. Massey had gone to Tops to do some grocery shopping. Kat wrote for both the Buffalo Challenger & Buffalo Criterion. A year ago, she wrote in support of more federal regulation of firearms.

Geraldine Chapman Talley, 62, was described by her niece, Kesha Chapman, as a gentle soul. “She loved everybody. She was always smiling. She didn't like confrontation. She wanted everything to be easy and full of love." Geraldine leaves behind her two adult children.

Margus D. Morrison, 52, was a father-of-three and was described by family and friends as a “nice person that never bothered anyone.”

Those who were wounded have been identified as Zaire Goodman, 20, of Buffalo, NY; Jennifer Warrington, 50, of Tonawanda, NY; and Christopher Braden, 55, of Lackawanna, NY

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🥲 Find an AD who cares as much as Candice Storey Lee #AnchorDown

As your constituent @cunningham4ny NYS Senator Zellnor Y. Myrie 米维, I urge you to support passing #CleanSlateNY. Now is the time to end perpetual punishment and strengthen communities statewide.

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