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PERMIT NO. 164 BUFFALO, N.Y. PAID
PRAYER VIGIL 2021 For The Buffalo Five
BY SHERRY SHERRILL On Monday, January 18 starting at 5:30 p.m. and lasting for was robbed and beaten to death after leaving The Gold Nugapproximately 30 minutes John H. Walker, Jr. and Darryl get Bar and Lounge, on Jan. 2, 1976. Crime scene photoBoyd, collectively known as 'The Buffalo 5', will convene a graphic evidence supported the conclusion that there was a PRAYER VIGIL that will be broadcast on Legendary Mix lone assailant, not five, but no DNA evidence was ever preWUFO1080 AM and Power 96.5FM. Numerous local clergy sented at time of the 1977 trials. Altogether, the three (conwill be joining them; filling the broadcast with powerful victed) members of The Buffalo 5 spent over 84 years in prayer that will support the men concerning their court prison, for a crime that they did not commit. battle to gain a thorough exoneration of their wrongful 1977 murder indictments and convictions. At 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, January 20 Walker and Boyd will return to NYS Supreme Court in downtown Buffalo, The five members of 'The Buffalo 5', are: John Walker, Jr., where Erie County District Attorney John Flynn is opposDarryl Boyd, Darryn Gibson, Floyd Martin, and Tyrone ing their Motion to Vacate Judgment of Indictment 41-413. Woodruff. Judge Christopher J. Burns will be ruling whether a 1976 crime scene photograph of a lone assailant's footprint conBoth Walker, Boyd, and Darryn Gibson (prior to his death), stitutes “New Evidence” in the Matter(s) of John Walker, Jr. have persistently proclaimed their innocence of the robbery and Darryl Boyd. If so, “The Buffalo 5” will be set upon a and murder of William Crawford, an elderly gentleman who path that will lead to their complete exoneration. Who are The Buffalo 5? Community Champions Honored The Communities of Giving Legacy Initiative’s 2020 Pay it The Buffalo 5 are a group of have become the most rec- Forward Awards held virtually in November. five African-American men ognizable faces of The Buf- The 2020 Pay It Forward honorees are: Zandra Cunningham, who, as 16 year old teenag- falo 5. Zandra Beauty; Tommy McClam & Daniel Robertson, Boys ers in 1976, were falsely ac- and Young Men of Color Initiative of the Racialcused and wrongly arrested, •Where does The Buffalo Equity Roundtable; Renee Mapp, SUNY Buffalo; and Mariindicted, tried (in 1977) , 5 matter stand, right now? lyn Young, Women Against Violence Everywhere.The award convicted, and imprisoned A preliminary Hearing on recognizes personal and professional accomplishments and for a brutal crime that they a Motion To Vacate Indict- how those actions increase philanthropy in communities of did not commit. ment 41-413 was held Dec. color. Emphasis is placed on service to the community and 2, 2020. That is The Bufalo educating the next generation, with a focus on showcasing •What did their original 5's indictment number. A community champions that reflect the multicultural and eth1977 trials concern? second Hearing will take nic diversity of the Communities of Giving Legacy InitiaThe original trials of The place on Wednesday, Jan. 20, tive’s mission. Congratulations Awardees! You can watch Buffalo 5, were for the mur- 2021. The goal is to overturn the full ceremony, including performances and a panel disder of a man named William The Bufalo 5's 1977 convic- cussion with the honorees at https://youtu.be/XhoA6xBn5tcCrawford. Crawford was tons. beaten to death and robbed in the early hours of Jan. 2, 1976. URGE DA FLYNN TO REMOVE THE KNEE OF IN- Roswell Park Brightens the Holidays for its Neighbors JUSTICE FROM THE NECKS OF THESE INNOCENT Roswell Park is not only a world-class cancer center — it’s a family of people offering a help•Why are The Buffalo 5 BLACK MEN! After Years of Injustice and Suffering for a ing hand to others in the City of Good Neighbors. The hospital and its staff promote the overall important? crime they did not commit, John Walker (center in wheel- health and wellness of everyone who calls Buffalo home, providing assistance and good cheer. One of The Buffalo 5, Ty- chair) and Darryl Boyd (to his immediate left) - two in- That’s especially true during the holiday season. Between November and December holidays, rone Woodruf, after being nocent men - will appear in NYS Supreme Court at 9:30 AM Roswell Park employees came together to help make the season brighter for our neighbors who mercilessly interrogated by Bufalo Police, turned State's Evidence against himself and his four friends, falsely implicating himself and the others. Another of The Bufalo 5, Floyd Martin, was exonerated at trial. However, three of The Bufalo 5, John Walker, Jr., Darryl Boyd, and Darryn Gibson were all convicted. Moreover, Wednesday January 20 in their decades long fight for justice. In a 2012 Challenger article their attorney, when asked what supporters of the co-defendants of 41-413 could do at the time, replied, “get down on your knees and pray to Almighty God for Justice…all too often in this society of ours, justice does not prevail, and Divine Intervention helps.” He added further, “It is very rare for injustices like this to be righted without public pressure.” The community is urged to call DA John Fynn at (716)858-2424 and ask him NOT to oppose the motion to vacate Indictment 41-413…so that the knee of injustice can finally be removed from the necks of these innocent Black men -The Challenger are struggling financially. In the days leading up to Thanksgiving, Roswell Park organized a collection of turkeys and nonperishable foods that filled a total of 40 large boxes, distributed by FeedMore WNY to Buffalo families so they could enjoy a special holiday meal together. (Earlier in the year, Roswell Park employees donated $11,000 to FeedMore WNY.) In addition, and in partnership with MIX 1080 WUFO and Power 96.5, Roswell Park collected and distributed 110 turkeys to the families of students at PS #53 Community School on Roehrer Avenue. In December, a life-size sleigh appeared in the lobby of the Roswell Park hospital as the centerpiece of a toy drive for families across Western New York. Employees donated 2,500 toys, which were added to more than 200 boxes of toys from Fisher-Price and additional donations from the Buffalo Fire Department. The gifts, which filled more than 20 pallets, were distributed to area children with the help of 20 community agencies and centers all over Buffalo. Roswell Park’s mission focuses on helping people find hope at every turn, and that includes nurturing the well-being of everyone in our community. evidence that could have “Roswell Park fosters health and wellness beyond the cancer care we provide,” says David Scott, exonerated these three, was withheld from their (public defender) defense attorneys, during tme of the 1977 trials. Finally, all five of The Bufalo 5 were actually innocent! Collectvely, the three convicted members of The Bufalo 5 spent an aggregate total of 84 years in New York State prison. Bufalo 5 in the news, at present? There are only three surviving members of The Bufalo 5 living at present. One of these, Tyrone Woodruf, lives MS, Director of Diversity and Inclusion. “We believe in caring for the community in a holistic way. We want to be viewed as a good neighbor and partner for the entire Western New York area. “Our Corporate Social Responsibility program exemplifies the many ways we care for the community in which we live. We do not want our neighbors’ first encounter with us to follow a cancer diagnosis for themselves or a family member.” At the end of this difficult year, we extend to all our neighbors our warmest wishes for a New Year filled with joy, good cheer and good health. •How many years did The •Why are there only 2 in- out-of-state. John Walker, Jr. Buffalo 5 spend in prison? dividuals representng The and Darryl Boyd, therefore, Forward Award recipients were honored at its annual Pay It
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