Justin Bieber Holds Moment of Silence for Mass Shooting Victims During His Buffalo Concert
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Justin Bieber is calling for change following the mass shooting that occurred in a Tops Friendly grocery store in Buffalo, New York on Saturday, May 14.
While visiting the city on the same Saturday during a stop on his Justice World Tour, Bieber addressed the horrific incident, calling racism "evil" and "diabolical."
The attack, which officials describe as a racially motivated, hate crime, claimed the lives of Aaron Salter, Ruth Whitfield, Pearly Young, Katherine Massey, Deacon Heyward Patterson, Celestine Chaney, Roberta A. Drury, Margus D. Morrison, Andre Mackneil, and Geraldine Talley according to The New York Times. Three individuals were also wounded in the attack. CNN reported that according to Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia, 11 of the 13 victims — including non-fatal victims — were Black.
In clips from his concert shared on Bieber's Instagram, Justin can be heard talking about the shooting with his tour crew before they head on stage.
"You guys probably heard what happened," the "Love Yourself" singer said in an IG video taken during the pre-show huddle. "Pretty horrible stuff."
"But I'm looking forward to tonight, looking forward to getting on stage and doing what we do best and having a good time and bringing joy to the city," he added. "It's much needed."
In an additional clip the "Peaches" singer shared on Instagram, Bieber was shown asking audience members to participate in a moment of silence to honor the victims.
"As you know, there's been tragedy in the city, but what we're gonna do tonight, is we're gonna honor those people, and I would love if we could just take a moment of silence," he said. "That would mean a lot to me."
Bieber also took the opportunity to address the accused gunman and alleged white supremacist, Payton S. Gendron.
"There's so much division in this world," he said. "So much racial injustice. And as you and I both know, racism is evil and it is diabolical. But what you and I get to do, is we get to be the difference makers. We get to be the people who continue to have the conversations with our friends and our families and our loved ones, who continue to be allies."
For more information on how you can support the families of the victims as well as the surrounding Buffalo community, please click the button below:
HOW TO SUPPORT BUFFALO SHOOTING VICTIMS AND THE COMMUNITY
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