Long Island spiritual leaders address frustration and hopelessness caused by Buffalo mass shooting

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. — In the wake of the mass shooting in Buffalo, officers and spiritual leaders gathered on Long Island on Tuesday to hope for peace and consolation.

As CBS2’s Carolyn Gusoff reported, leaders addressed a number of the robust emotions concerning the assault that vary from frustration to hopelessness.

“Sometimes it just seems as if we run out of answers,” mentioned Pastor Carlton Chambers of the Church of God of Prophecy.

There have been prayers for Buffalo, for peace and for equality in Hempstead, the place the hatred was answered with unity.

“Help us to be rid of hate,” mentioned Rabbi Art Vernon of Congregation Shaaray Shalom of West Hempstead.

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Yet spiritual leaders acknowledged the barrage of violence can evoke emotions of hopelessness, and prayer shouldn’t be sufficient. Focus, they counsel, on the nice that brings us collectively.

“We get overwhelmed with things that are happening and forget there are people that still love. There are people that believe in diversity. There are people that still care for one another,” Village of Hempstead Mayor Waylyn Hobbs mentioned.

“Love always conquers hate. This is something our nation has dealt with and wrestled with for many years, but we always seem to overcome and we always seem to rise,” added Dr. Sedgwick Easley, pastor of Union Baptist Church of Hempstead.

Leaders referred to as for motion on psychological well being and the straightforward entry to weapons.

“We’re also looking at responsibility, the responsibilities of social media companies in spreading hate and their algorithms that allow for this kind of hate to spread,” mentioned state Sen. Kevin Thomas, who represents Garden City.

And they added there are small steps we are able to all take, corresponding to retaining tabs on what social media our kids are consuming.

“‘How was your day? What’s going on?’ We don’t do that anymore,” mentioned Apostle Phyllis Young of Hempstead’s Miracle Christian Center.

And, they added, when unhappiness and rage overwhelm, take a social media break.

“Having a good cry, it releases all those stress hormones, those toxins,” mentioned Kathy Rivera of the North Shore Child and Family Guidance Center.

She urged to do one thing constructive.

“Don’t just be passive. Find out how you can help, ways you can help, whether it be with your elected officials, your local congregations, asking others, nonprofits like us, what can we do to help and heal?” Rivera mentioned.

And simply as necessary, spiritual leaders say to have a dialog about escalating racism that seems to have so shortly poisoned an 18-year-old within the Buffalo assault.

“If not we are going to continue to spin the wheel and we will be here again,” Easley mentioned.

And, they added, at all times be vigilant, If you are conscious of a menace of violence, if you happen to see one thing, say one thing.