Tributes to Pearly Young, missionary killed in Buffalo racially motivated shooting

“God bless this beautiful soul who wanted nothing more than to make this world a better place. »

Saturday afternoon, a white man equipped with an assault weapon and a bulletproof vest, entered a supermarket to commit carnage. We deplore 10 dead and 33 injured, the majority of them African-Americans. This racist shooting is described as an act of "domestic terrorism" by the authorities.

A large crowd gathered at the scene of the tragedy on Sunday, praying and chanting the word "unity" while another vigil was held in a church where Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown said he was "devastated" by this “racist and violent attack”.

The killer identified as Payton Gendron, 18 and living in the south of the state, carried a camera and broadcast his crime live on Twitch, a platform which claimed to have removed the content "two minutes" after it began to be broadcast. New York State Governor Katy Hochul denounced a "racist" act and a "military-style execution" linked to "white supremacy".

Among the victims, Pearly Young, 77, a missionary who had been distributing meals in Central Park for 25 years. "Pearly Young, 77, was killed today while shopping in Buffalo," journalist Madison Carter wrote on Twitter.

“For 25 years she ran a pantry where every Saturday she fed the people of Central Park. Every Saturday. She loved to sing, dance and be with family. She was a mother, grandmother, and missionary. Gone too soon. »

Pearly Young, 77, was killed today in #Buffalo shopping for groceries.

For 25 years she ran a pantry where every Saturday she fed people in Central Park. Every. Saturday.
She loved singing, dancing, & being with family.

She was mother, grandma, & missionary. Gone too soon 🕊 pic.twitter.com/dQ5X9KBJCQ

—Madison Carter (@madisonlcarter) May 15, 2022

Public chat Facebook a user pays tribute to “a beautiful soul who wanted nothing more than to make this world a better place”.

“Miss Pearl was a substitute at my school, she came every day, she worked with children most would run away from, she would tell the students about the music she liked and they would listen to, she would do whatever was asked of her and asked for nothing in return except a smile in return... (....) God bless this beautiful soul who wanted nothing more than to make this world a better place. »

MC (with AFP)

Image credit: Twitter