On May 14, 2022, an 18-year-old white man armed with an assault rifle attacked shoppers and workers at a supermarket in Buffalo, New York, killing 10 people and wounding three others. In a racist and antisemitic rant posted online beforehand, the gunman described himself as a white supremacist motivated by the "great replacement theory." Mayor Byron Brown said the suspect arrived in Buffalo intending to take "as many black lives as possible." 

One year later, the community of Buffalo continues to mourn the 10 souls lost. However, the community over that time has also come to honor those lives lost by actively working against the rising tide of anti-black hate. 

Earlier this month, May 1, 2023, Pardeep S. Kaleka, Co-Director of NIOT was joined by Raymond Whitfield, son of Ruth Whitfield in Ottawa, Canada at the Canada Center for Community Engagement and Prevention of Violence. Both spoke on the ongoing threats facing America and the role of survivors in violence prevention. 

"Raymond is a light and embodies the strenght of survivorship. The Buffalo community has a very long journey, we should all gain courage from those loves lost on May 14th and be intentional in our work to foster healing."

-Pardeep Kaleka, Not In Our Town Co-Director 

From left to right: Communities impacted by White Supremacist Extremism Violence across the world.  Paul Ash, Christchurch Call, Raymond Whitfield, Buffalo Community, son of Ruth Whitfield, Pardeep Kaleka, Sikh Temple in Oak Creek, NIOT co-director, Hannah Kaye, Jewish Community, Chabad of Poway at the 2023 Canada Center for Community Engagement and Prevention of Violence on May 1, 2023, Ottawa, Canada.

The vast majority of hate crimes in the U.S. are racist attacks, and Black people are the most frequent targets of hate violence.  Anti-Black hate crimes are higher than they have been since the FBI started collecting data on hate crimes in 1991, according to researchers at the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism. 

This is the time to stand with the families and survivors in the Buffalo community. This moment demands a collective sense of will and commitment – and a plan for anti-hate training and community engagement throughout the country.

Ten Actions: Stand Up Now to Hate Violence and Racism [1]

“We can do something to stop the spread of hate, and our local communities are where we can immediately make a change that can be felt in people’s lives."

— Patrice O’Neill, Not In Our Town founder

Take Action

Now is the time to show support for the Buffalo community.

Here are ways you can support the victims, their families, and our neighbors in the Buffalo community [2] impacted by the racist mass shooting.

Social Media Tootkit drafted by Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, #RememberBuffalo.  social media toolkit [3] 

In Your Town

Even just one individual or a small group can start a movement to stand up to hate.

Ten Actions: Stand Up Now to Hate Violence and Racism [1]

Communities can also access our Quick Start Guide [4], Video Portal [5], Not In Our Schools lesson plans [6] and videos (including ideas for National Bullying Prevention Month [7]), and many more resources [8]. Learn more about what we do and all the ways you can get involved with our movement.

Stand Up to Hate. Together.