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Alaina GetzenbergESPN
BUFFALO (N.Y.) — One day after 10 people were shot and killed in a shooting at a Buffalo grocery, three more were injured. BillsSafety Micah HydeA portion of the proceeds from his Charity Softball Game will be donated to the families and friends of those who died.
Hyde stated that although the planned softball game was nearly cancelled due to the events of the weekend, he felt it was important for the community to come together and do something good.
The attack took place Saturday afternoonWhen a white 18 year-old opened fire on Tops Friendly Markets at Jefferson Avenue, in a predominantly Black area of Buffalo, The act was described by authorities as “racially motivated violent extremeism”.
Hyde stated, “I still cannot believe it.” “But hate is something that you can erase with love. And today, we are showing love to the community and to the youth and to the community and to the foundation. That’s how you combat it, I suppose.
The sponsors of the event presented a $200,000 check to Hyde’s IMagINe For Youth Foundation before the game. A portion of other proceeds was also donated, while the money from the silent sale at the event went to the families. All proceeds from the softball match will go to Western New York.
Over 10,000 people attended the event at Sahlen Field, Buffalo’s downtown area. This was after Hyde’s first charity softball match in 2019. Over three dozen Bills’ players attended, including the quarterback Josh Allen, tight end Dawson KnoxCornerback Tre’Davious WhiteSafety and security Jordan Poyer.
With the Bills’ voluntary OTAs still in effect this week, several players stated that they expected the team will meet Monday during meetings to determine the best approach to the larger group for helping the community and those most affected by the shooting.
Allen expressed his heartfelt sympathy to the families of the victims. “We haven’t yet talked as a team. Tomorrow we will be there and I am sure that we will talk about it and find a way to help the family. You don’t think it’s going to happen in your neighborhood, and it often hits home. Yesterday was a horrible day. It was so gut wrenching that I flew back from my sister’s graduation. It’s really that.
“We’ll be talking as a group tomorrow to figure out what we want, but it’s clear that we’re going to do something.”
Allen stated that Hyde did not cancel the event and that it gave Bills players a chance to show their support for the community.
Allen stated that the locker room was a microcosm of an NFL football team. It is made up of different races, ethnicities, and personalities. “Coming out, having fun and showing the community that this is who we as a team. This is what we are as a community. We want to be a part this community.
Although there was a home run derby, and a light seven-inning game of softball between the offense/defense, the enormity of what took place in the community over this weekend was immense. It included a moment of silence to the national anthem, which was performed by Buffalo Police Officer Armonde Moe Badger.
Hyde said, “If you stop and cancel everything out of hatred, we won’t move forward.” “There is a lot of it. I think all that you can do, as I said, is spread love and help one another. It was a big part of society in the past couple years, with COVID and all that stuff, to just reach out and help one another and love on one another.
This story was contributed by the Associated Press.