Niagara Falls lit up in orange tonight in memory of Buffalo victims

Niagara Falls – both the Horseshoe Falls and American Falls – will be lit up in orange tonight (May 17) from 11 pm to midnight to honour the memories of the fallen after the horrific shooting in Buffalo on Saturday afternoon.

The shooting took place at Tops Friendly Market in the 1200 block of Jefferson Avenue in the state’s second-largest city, in a predominantly black neighbourhood that authorities believe the suspect had specifically targeted by an 18-year-old self-declared white supremist.

Thirteen people in total were shot. Among the victims, 11 were black.

U.S. President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden landed in Buffalo today to “grieve” with the community and delivered remarks where he called Saturday’s attack “straightforward terrorism”.

“Hate will not prevail, white supremacy will not have the last word,” he said during a speech at a Buffalo community centre.

Of this side of the border, Fort Erie Mayor Wayne Redekop, whose town is connected to Buffalo by the Peace Bridge, condemned the heinous actions of the shooter, saying we all have “an obligation to speak out against and oppose the ideologies that promote hate, racism and discrimination. There are close family ties between our two communities, as well as deep friendships among our residents and those of Buffalo.”

“The residents of Fort Erie are shocked and horrified at the senseless shooting of innocent people in Buffalo. The knowledge that the shooter was racially motivated is extremely troubling. There is no place for hate and racism in our societies,” added Redekop.

“We grieve with the families of those killed and maimed yesterday, and all residents of the City of Good Neighbours.”