Two earlier attempts to pass the legislation in 2021 and 2022 did not succeed…reports Asian Lite News
New York City Mayor Eric Adams has officially decalred Diwali as a school holiday aimed at honouring the city’s South Asian, Indo-Caribbean, Hindu, Sikh, Jain and Buddhist communities.
On Monday, Mayor Adams made the announcement at City Hall while being flanked by Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar, the first Hindu American and first South Asian American woman elected to state office, reports ABC 7.
“Today we say to over 600,000 Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, and Jain Americans, we see you,” Rajkumar said.
“Today we say to families from India, Guyana, Trinidad, Nepal, and Bangladesh, we recognise you.”
Taking to Twitter later in the day, Adams said: “I’m so proud to have stood with Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar and community leaders in the fight to make Diwali a school holiday.
“I know it’s a little early in the year, but: Shubh Diwali!”
#WATCH | Diwali to become school holiday in New York City, US
"I'm so proud to have stood with Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar and community leaders in the fight to make Diwali a school holiday. I know it's a little early in the year, but: Shubh Diwali," tweets Mayor Eric Adams… pic.twitter.com/TfrlU7KWwm
The Mayor’s announcement comes after the New York State legislature on June 9 passed a Bill to make Diwali a school holiday in the city.
However, Governor Kathy Hochul is still yet to sign the bill to make it into a law.
Two earlier attempts to pass the legislation in 2021 and 2022 did not succeed.
An estimated 200,000 students from these communities will be able to celebrate the festival of lights in their own way, free of school.
In 2023, Diwali will be celebrated on Sunday, November 12, so it will be a day off school for the first time in 2024.
The New York Department of Education said there will be four new days off during 2023-24 school calendar including April 1, the day after Easter, April 29 and 30, the two days of Passover, and June 17 for Eid.
At a public event in New York’s Times Square, the Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan addressed the diaspora community from Kerala, highlighting the state’s achievements in various sectors over the past six years….reports Asian Lite News
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan praised Kerala as a beacon of progress, emphasising the importance of inclusivity and unity for a brighter future. Speaking at a public event in New York’s Times Square, he addressed the diaspora community from Kerala, highlighting the state’s achievements in various sectors over the past six years.
Vijayan inaugurated the American Regional Conference of the Loka Kerala Sabha, a non-resident Keralites’ convention in New York.
The event was attended by Speaker AN Shamseer, Finance Minister KN Balagopal, Chief Secretary V P Joy, and other senior officials. He emphasised Kerala’s commitment to social harmony, equitable growth, and progressive values, citing infrastructure development, investments in education, healthcare, and economic advancements.
The chief minister stressed that Kerala’s policies prioritise compassion, social justice, and empowerment of marginalized communities. He proudly stated that Kerala stands as an example of inclusive development, with a strong focus on people’s well-being.
Vijayan acknowledged the state’s achievements, such as attaining the top position in the national food safety index and being recognized as the most literate state. Kerala’s government schools, hospitals, and law-and-order situation were commended as the best in the country, fostering communal harmony and peace.
Encouraging cooperation from Malayalis worldwide, Vijayan urged them to contribute to Kerala’s ongoing prosperity. He also highlighted Kerala’s status as India’s first fully e-governed state, emphasizing the importance of technology in promoting transparency, efficiency, and inclusivity. Over 900 public services are now accessible online, revolutionizing governance in Kerala.
Vijayan said that his government’s controversial semi-high-speed rail project, SilverLine, which has been back-burnered by the Centre, will be a reality.
We’re working toward getting approval for the project even as a certain section adopted a stand to sabotage it. Pressure was put on the Centre to stop the project… so, under the circumstances, though the project has not been approved yet, the semi-high-speed rail service will be materialised,” Vijayan said.
The Kerala CM has claimed that Kerala’s rail connectivity is poor compared to its air transport, roads and waterways. He said while the single Vande Bharat service in Kerala has gained acceptance, people have not given up hope on the K rail.
In conclusion, Chief Minister Vijayan celebrated Kerala’s achievements, its commitment to progress, and the collective effort required to continue the state’s journey towards prosperity.
Earlier, the chief minister has inaugurated the Business Investment Meet and met with Malayali investors in America, prominent expatriate Malayalis, IT experts, students and women entrepreneurs.
“Had a fruitful interaction with prominent Malayali industrialists, heads of institutions, and entrepreneurs in the US, exchanging ideas that can fuel innovation and drive the economic progress of the state. Together, let’s strive hard to build a prosperous future for Kerala,” Vijayan tweeted.
The Chief Minister is also scheduled to meet the World Bank South Asia Regional Vice President Martin Raiser in Washington DC. On June 13, Vijayan will personally visit and understand the Maryland waste management systems. On June 14, he will leave New York for Havana.
The Chief Minister will participate in various programs in Havana on June 15 and 16. He will meet with various dignitaries. The Chief Minister will also visit the places of historical importance including the memorial of Jose Marti.
The first Loka Kerala Sabha happened in January 2018. 351 members attended the first Loka Kerala Sabha, out of which 100 were living abroad, 42 were from other states of India, 30 experts from various fields and 6 members representing non-resident Keralite returnees and peoples’ representatives.
An airplane flies over New York, the United States, on June 7, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Rui/IANS)
The crisis was caused by forest fires in Canada…reports Asian Lite News
As smoke continues to shroud parts of the north-eastern US, the nation’s financial and media capital has recorded its worst air pollution level, which Governor Kathy Hochul called it an “emergency”.
On Wednesday evening, at 7 p.m. (local time), New York was the city with the world’s worst air pollution, hitting 241 on the Air Quality Index (AQI), far higher than the 179 recorded by Lahore, which came next on the index.
On Thursday morning at 10 a.m., it continued to hold the record of the most polluted city with a reading of 182, according to IQAir, which monitors air quality around the world in real time.
“What we’re experiencing right now with the sub-standard air quality, (is) a crisis, it is also a dangerous situation,” Hochul said on Wednesday.
The crisis was caused by forest fires in Canada, which ironically celebrated Wednesday as Clean Air Day with the motto, “Clean Air Everywhere” while smoke streamed south towards its southern neighbour.
Describing the condition in New York, Hochul said: “The haze and the smoke from the fires, you could feel it even sitting indoors here, it’s clogging much of our air. In fact, it’s almost impossible to see the sunset or see the sky.”
The National Weather Service (NWS) tweeted: “It is recommended to limit time outdoors. Wearing a mask may help limit irritation for those suffering from respiratory illnesses. More smoke expected Thursday and Friday.”
In many places, the sky took on an eery orange glow prompting an NWS unit in New York State to tweet: “This is not Mars.”
“Sun is no longer visible, everything’s orange”, it said.
New York, with a population of about 8.5 million in the city and 20 million in the metro area, even shut its zoos and beaches because of the air quality, while schools in many surrounding cities and towns were ordered closed on Thursday.
Major sports events were postponed on Wednesday.
Flights to and from New York area airports were delayed because of poor visibility, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
Speed limits were reduced on some highways around New York City because of low visibility.
Among hard-hit cities, Washington and Philadelphia issued Code Red alerts because of the air quality conditions.
Canada’s own cities were saved from the worst because of the wind directions.
Toronto recorded only 156 on the AQI on Wednesday evening.
Celebrating the Holiday season in New York City.(photo:IANSLIFE)
US media and government have long taunted India’s capital for its air quality but now the US financial capital got a first-hand experience of the environmental problem….writes Arul Louis
The US financial capital’s air hit the world’s worst air pollution level for cities on Tuesday night topping New Delhi, prompting New York Mayor Erid Adams to issue an alert asking people to limit outdoor activities.
He said that the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) number hit 218 because of smoke from forest fires in Canada up north.
At the time New Delhi’s AQI number was in the 190 range.
As the city choked on the drifting smoke, iIts skyline turned into various shades of grey and, as the evening sun filtered through, orange, obscuring the tops of some of the high-rise buildings.
New York’s media and the US government have long taunted India’s capital for its air quality but now the US financial capital got a first-hand experience of the environmental problem.
The New York Times, for example, has touted headlines like, “What India Looks Like When the Air Turns to Poison” and “Choking on Air in New Delhi”.
The US Embassy in New Delhi maintains an online dashboard of air quality data for the capital and five other cities.
Raging fires in forests of Quebec and other parts of Canada in recent days have flooded the US northeast with smoke setting off health and environmental alarms.
According to IQAir, which monitors air quality in real time around the world, the AQI index number was down to 161 for New York at 7.30 p.m. in India and 9 a.m. in New York on Wednesday compared to 191 for New Delhi.
New Delhi: Smog engulfs the national capital as the air quality worsens, on Nov 15, 2019. The air pollution emergency in Delhi has aggravated with the air quality index (AQI) spiking sharply to 528 on Friday morning.The AQI on Thursday was much lower at 470 in the ‘severe plus’ category. The PM 10 count was also in the severe plus category at 496 and PM 2.5 count was at 324.(Photo: IANS)
Despite the reprieve, Adams said that the conditions “are expected to deteriorate further” on Wednesday afternoon and night.
New York still remained the city with the second-most air pollution level.
Unlike in New Delhi where the worst air quality problems are man-made, fueled by farmers burning the remnants of the harvests, in the US forest fires – an annular feature of summer and late spring – are responsible.
The current wave of forest infernos in Canada has spread over 3.3 million hectares, according to reports, covering also several other provinces.
Last year, the US had one of its worst forest fire seasons that engulfed 146,680 and led to the evacuation of many towns.
New York edged past Hong Kong, in particular, due to significant rise in rental costs as demand soared post the Covid pandemic….reports Asian Lite News
New York has been ranked the most expensive city for expatriates, overtaking Hong Kong, which held the top spot for four years but was pushed to second place in a 2023 global cost-of-living study.
London held its position at number four in the annual study conducted by ECA International, which compared costs faced by expatriates in 207 cities around the world.
In North America, rankings for all US cities have risen this year, primarily driven by the strength of the US dollar, the study said.
New York edged past Hong Kong, in particular, due to significant rise in rental costs as demand soared post the Covid pandemic.
Barring London, all UK cities dropped in global rankings despite the ongoing cost of living crisis felt locally.
“The cost of living crisis in the UK persists, with rising costs driven primarily by food, utilities, and housing prices. Despite these challenges, all UK cities barring London have experienced a decline in the global rankings,” said Steven Kilfedder, Head of Production at ECA International.
“This can largely be attributed to the weakness of the pound, which has made the country cheaper for people coming to the UK from other countries.”
Geneva in Switzerland remained the most expensive location in Europe and the third most expensive in the world for expatriates.
In Asia, Hong Kong’s fall in the rankings was matched by nearly all major locations in the region. Singapore, Seoul and Yangon were among the exceptions, with Singapore having leapt up into the top five most expensive cities in the world, up from 13th position in 2022.
Singapore’s ascent was primarily driven by rapidly rising accommodation costs.
“Singapore’s rise is notable. Increased demand for rental accommodation in the Lion City, driven by factors such as the early relaxation of Covid restrictions compared to other key locations in the region, was not matched by corresponding increases in the supply of suitable accommodation,” said Lee Quane, Regional Director, Asia, at ECA International.
Contrary to last year, Chinese cities dropped further down in the rankings due to weaker Chinese yuan against other currencies and a lower rate of inflation compared to other countries.
Shanghai and Guangzhou remain the most expensive cities in China, but have fallen out of the global top 10, as the 13th and 14th most expensive cities in the world for expatriates, respectively.
Dubai rents rose by almost one-third on an influx of Russian expatriates, pushing the city up to 12th place, the study found.
ECA International’s cost of living rankings combine ECA’s cost of living and accommodation research to enable a comparison of costs faced by expatriates in 207 cities in 120 countries and territories around the world.
Celebrating the Holiday season in New York City.(photo:IANSLIFE)
The 2022-2023 holiday season is a great time to explore New York City, according to NYC & Company, the convention and visitors bureau and official destination marketing agency of New York City.
Here’s a list of festive hotel offerings and shop at small businesses and flagship stores in NYC:
Festive Hotel Offerings
NYC Hotel Week: Give the Gift of an NYC Hotel Stay this Winter
On sale from mid-November, Citywide
NYC & Company’s second iteration of NYC Hotel Week will return for 2023 alongside signature programs, NYC Restaurant Week, NYC Broadway WeekSM and NYC Must-See WeekSM. On sale from mid-November, shoppers can give the gift of New York City with a 23 per cent off discount. Valid for stays over January 3-February 12, 2023.
Celebrating the Holiday season in New York City.(photo:IANSLIFE)
Holidays at The Plaza
November 24-January 1, Midtown Manhattan
Enjoy afternoon tea at The Palm Court at The Plaza, an iconic destination for holiday festivities, as well as Santa Claus visits, the “Home Alone 2” experience and one-of-a-kind gifts at the Eloise Pop-Up.
Letters to Santa at Lotte New York Palace
November 27-December 23, Midtown Manhattan
The hotel will hold its annual Letters to Santa program, where customized postcards are provided to all guests upon check-in, allowing visitors to write their very own letter to Santa and “mail” them in the property’s Santa mailbox. Each evening, a North Pole Postman will pick up the cards, which are read by the hotel’s “Guest Experience Elves” and Santa Claus himself. Each guest will magically find a personalized response from the desk of Santa Claus, placed in their room to create treasured memories. Winter Spectacular at The Refinery Hotel
December 1-31, Midtown Manhattan
Prospective guests will delight in The Refinery Hotel’s Winter Spectacular. All December long, each stay booked with this special offer comes with a live Christmas tree, decorated and set up for guest arrival, along with hot chocolate, milk, cookies and gingerbread house kits upon request. Perfect for travellers or locals looking for a festive staycation.
Ring in the 2023 New Year at The Knickerbocker
December 31, Midtown Manhattan
The Knickerbocker Hotel continues with tradition, ringing in 2023 with its annual New Year’s Eve party. The one-of-a-kind celebration will host guests with a night of surprise and excitement just 150 feet below the Times Square Ball – the closest live view of the event in the world.
Shop Local at small businesses and flagship stores
Make Merry at Nordstrom
Available now throughout the holiday season, Midtown Manhattan
Nordstrom once again invites shoppers to Make Merry with the arrival of its holiday campaign featuring Tony Award-winning performer Leslie Odom Jr., Emmy-nominated actress Christina Ricci and their families. The campaign will showcase a curated selection of the best products, stories and experiences shared within the homes of Odom Jr. and Ricci, just in time for visitors to plan ahead for holiday shopping. The catalogue is now available online and in select stores.
Flagship Store Shopping
Available now throughout the holiday season, Midtown Manhattan
Locals and visitors alike are invited to various flagship stores, such as Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, Bergdorf Goodman, Cartier, Saks Fifth Avenue and more, to find this season’s most brilliant holiday presents for friends and family. 36th Annual Miracle on Madison Avenue
Throughout holiday season, Upper East Side, Manhattan
The 36th Annual Miracle on Madison Avenue, NYC’s holiday shopping tradition, will benefit the pediatric programs of The Society of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park
October 28 throughout holiday season, Bryant Park, Manhattan
This year, the European-style Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park welcomes travellers and locals alike to kick off the festive season with must-buy gifts and sweets matched with cosy libations and winter activities.
Shop at Grand Central Terminal
November 14-December 24, Midtown Manhattan
Grand Central Terminal welcomes back its famous indoor Holiday Fair to the splendour of Vanderbilt Hall this November after a two-year hiatus. The Grand Central Holiday Fair is one of New York City’s most coveted attractions, welcoming thousands of locals, commuters and visitors for a curated holiday shopping and gifting experience. This year’s event will feature 36 vendors, including Ekologic, Garden of Silver and Rebel Designs.
Union Square Holiday Market
November 17-December 24, Union Square, Manhattan
Urbanspace’s longest running holiday market will return this year with over 160 vendors featuring unique gifts created by local craftsmen, artists and entrepreneurs.
Brooklyn Flea Holiday Market
Sundays, November 24-December 24, Dumbo, Brooklyn
Visitors are welcomed once again to Pearl Street for Dumbo’s iconic Brooklyn Flea Holiday Market. One of the borough’s most popular attractions, shoppers will support local vendors and cross off holiday shopping with vintage and antique items, crafts and gourmet food stands.
Celebrating the Holiday season in New York City.(Photo:IANSLIFE)
Grand Holiday Bazaar
Sundays, November 27-December 18, Upper West Side, Manhattan
Find one-of-a-kind handmade holiday decoration and giftable items: candles, skincare, fashion, handbags, vintage accessories and collectibles, handmade jewellery and furniture, rare antique silver and glassware, and of course delicious artisanal treats and foods. Annually, the market provides more than 1,000 independent local merchants with much-needed affordable retail space.
Columbus Circle Holiday Market
November 28-December 24, Upper West Side, Manhattan
Internationally known as one of the most elegant places for holiday shopping, visitors will lose themselves in aisles of art, jewellery, home goods and delicious eats from local artisans and designers, all while roaming through NYC’s iconic Central Park, just a stone’s throw away.
Lion Romeo Hitlall of Tulsi Mandir, FIA (NY, NJ, CT) Chairman Ankur Vaidya, GOPIO Chairman Dr Thomas Abraham, Indiaspora Founder M.R. Rangaswamy and Grammy Award Winner Falu Shah.(PHOTO CREDIT: GOPIO)
The City houses one of the highest populations of Indians in the US, with at least 711,174 Indian residents as of 2017…reports Asian Lite News
New York City Mayor Eric Adams honoured leading Indian-American organisations and a Person of Indian-origin for their contributions and ‘outstanding work’ towards their communities.
During the recent Diwali celebrations at his Gracie Mansion, Mayor Adams awarded the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO), led by Dr Thomas Abraham, for mobilising the Indian community and working for the common good of the society in the New York area.
Federation of Indian Associations of NY, NJ, CT, Indiaspora, Grammy Award Winner Falu Shah and Tulsi Mandir of Richmond Hill Queens and Lion Romeo Hitlall of the Indo-Caribbean community, were also honoured.
“I looked at during the 70s when we saw such a large wave of those who came from India, moved to Queens, wanted to believe in American dream and you worked hard and opened small businesses, and you sent your children to school to learn different skills so they can be deputy mayors and doctors and leaders of agencies and help our city move forward, fortifying the strength of our city,” said Mayor Adams, addressing a gathering of over 1,100 people
Bringing cheer to the Indian-American community, Adams had recently announced Diwali as a public holiday in New York City beginning in 2023.
The City houses one of the highest populations of Indians in the US, with at least 711,174 Indian residents as of 2017.
“Thank you to Mayor Adams for supporting the Indian diaspora community,” the Indiaspora tweeted after the event.
Founded in 2012 by M.R. Rangaswami, the Indiaspora is constituted of many globally influential figures with Indian heritage.
“After attending the incredible Diwali party at the White House, we came home to New York City where we were bestowed with a Citation for our contribution to the performing arts. We’re super grateful and honored!” Grammy Award-winning Indian vocalist, composer and educator, Falu Shah, wrote in a tweet.
Pandit Lakhram Maharaj, the founder of Shri Tulsi Mandir, accepted the honour on behalf of the temple.
In August, a handcrafted statue of Mahatma Gandhi was destroyed by a group of six persons with a sledgehammer at the Tulsi Mandir.
Dilip Chauhan, Deputy Commissioner at the New York City Mayor’s Office For International Affairs, presided over the special award presentation to the diaspora organisations.
This was the first Diwali Celebration by Mayor Adams held at the Gracie mansion on October 25 after assuming office.
The event was attended by Jenifer Rajkumar, the first South Asian-American woman ever to be elected to a state office in New York, who had introduced the legislation to recognise Diwali and New York City Schools, and New York State Senator Kevin Thomas.
Others present with Mayor Adams were his senior team members of Indian-origin, including Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi, Environmental Protection Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala and Health Commissioner Ashwin Vasan.
Rushdie was stabbed at least once in the neck and in the abdomen, reports Asian Lite News
Author Salman Rushdie, who was stabbed at a literary event in New York state, is currently on a ventilator and unable to speak, according to his agent.
In a statement late Friday night, Rushdie’s agent Andrew Wylie said: “The news is not good… Salman will likely lose one eye; the nerves in his arm were severed; and his liver was stabbed and damaged,” dpa news agency reported.
The attacker stormed the stage at the event held in the Chautauqua Institution attended by hundreds of people at around 11 a.m. on Friday and stabbed the 75-year-old Indian-born novelist, according to a police spokesman.
Several event staff and spectators then rushed the suspect and brought him to the ground and a police officer arrested the 24-year-old male identified as Hadi Matar from Fairview, New Jersey, the spokesman said.
Rushdie was treated by a doctor who was in the audience until rescue workers arrived and took the author to hospital by helicopter.
He was stabbed at least once in the neck and in the abdomen, authorities said
The attacker is thought to have acted alone, the spokesman added.
Rushdie was giving a lecture at a cultural centre as part of a series titled “More than Shelter” which intended to discuss the US as a safe haven for exiled writers and persecuted artists.
Because of his 1988 work “The Satanic Verses”, a fatwa was issued against Rushdie by then-Iranian revolutionary leader Ayatollah Khomeini calling for the author’s death.
Some Muslims felt their religious sensibilities were offended by the work.
Whether Friday’s attack was at all related to the decades-old fatwa was unclear.
Rushdie’s publisher last year said the fatwa has long since stopped affecting the author’s life, and that he is no longer restricted in where he goes and no longer needs bodyguards.
The writer told German magazine Stern days earlier that he felt safe in the US, and that the threat was from a long time ago.
Writers including JK Rowling and Stephen King expressed their horror at the attack. US writers’ organization PEN America said it was “reeling from shock and horror at word of a brutal, premeditated attack” on Rushdie.
“Salman Rushdie has been targeted for his words for decades but has never flinched nor faltered,” PEN America chief executive Suzanne Nossel said in a statement.
Rushdie was born in Mumbai in 1947, the year of Indian independence.
He later studied history at Cambridge University in Britain.
He had his breakthrough as an author with the book “Midnight’s Children”, which was awarded the prestigious Booker Prize in 1981.
In it, he tells the story of India’s detachment from the British Empire based on the life stories of protagonists who are born at the precise moment of independence and are endowed with supernatural abilities.
Rushdie has published more than two dozen fiction, non-fiction, and other writings overall.
His style is referred to as Magic Realism, in which realistic events are interwoven with fantastic elements.
Tens of thousands of people attended Sunday’s LGBTQIA+ Pride parade, which wound its way through the streets of lower Manhattan under the blazing sun….reports Asian Lite News
A stampede occurred at a Pride parade in the US city of New York on Sunday, with hundreds of people attempting to flee after mistaking the sound of fireworks for gunfire, media reported.
“There were NO shots fired in Washington Square Park. After an investigation, it was determined that the sound was fireworks set off at the location,” the news agency AFP quoted New York Police Department’s statement.
The officers told AFP “there were no serious injuries” from the stampede.
Terrified people ran or walked briskly along a street adjacent to the square after the scare, videos on social media showed, it was reported.
Tens of thousands of people attended Sunday’s LGBTQIA+ Pride parade, which wound its way through the streets of lower Manhattan under the blazing sun.
New York’s Pride parade is the second-largest in the United States, after San Francisco, and Sunday’s gathering was the first time it had taken place since the Covid-19 pandemic began.
Meanwhile, the three states of California, Oregon and Washington in the US West Coast announced that they will continue protecting abortion access despite the Supreme Court overturning its 50-year-old landmark Roe v. Wade decision which granted women a constitutional right to abortion.
The Governors of these states issued a Multi-State Commitment on Friday to defend access to reproductive health care, including abortion and contraceptives, and committed to protecting patients and doctors against efforts by other states to export their abortion bans to the West Coast states, reports Xinhua news agency.
“This Multi-State Commitment affirms the governors’ commitment in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s unprecedented decision to strip away a constitutional right that has been in place for half a century, leaving abortion regulation to the states,” Office of the Governor of California said in a statement.
“The sweeping decision means that for patients in more than half the country, home to 33.6 million women, abortion care is illegal or inaccessible.”
The three Governors also released video messages, condemning the latest ruling and sharing the view that the West Coast would remain a place where reproductive health care will be accessible and protected.
Among those killed inside the store was a retired police officer who was working as an armed security guard…reports Asian Lite News
A heavily armed 18-year-old white gunman shot 10 people dead on Saturday at a Buffalo, New York grocery store in a “racially motivated” attack that he live-streamed on camera, authorities said.
The gunman, who was wearing a helmet and tactical gear, was arrested after the massacre, Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia told a news conference.
Gramaglia put the toll at 10 dead and three wounded. Police said most of the victims were Black.
The gunman first shot four people in the parking lot of the Tops supermarket, three of them fatally, then went inside and continued firing, Gramaglia said.
Among those killed inside the store was a retired police officer who was working as an armed security guard.
The guard “engaged the suspect, fired multiple shots,” but the gunman — who was protected by body armor — shot him, Gramaglia said.
When police arrived, the shooter put the gun to his neck, but was talked down and ultimately surrendered, he added. Stephen Belongia, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Buffalo field office, told the news conference that the shooting is being investigated as a hate crime.
“We are investigating this incident as both a hate crime and a case of racially motivated violent extremism,” Belongia said.
Eerie County Sheriff John Garcia described the attack as “pure evil.”
“It was straight up racially motivated hate crime form somebody outside of our community,” he said.
John Flynn, the district attorney for Eerie County, where Buffalo is located, said the suspect would be arraigned on charges of murder in the first degree, which carries a sentence of life without parole.
Byron Brown, the mayor of Buffalo — which is located in western New York, along the US border with Canada — said the shooter “traveled hours from outside this community to perpetrate this crime.”
“This is a day of great pain for our community,” Brown said.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said US President Joe Biden had been briefed on the “horrific shooting.”
Biden “will continue to receive updates throughout the evening and tomorrow as further information develops. The president and the first lady are praying for those who have been lost and for their loved ones,” Jean-Pierre added.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, the senior US senator from New York, said in a tweet: “We are standing with the people of Buffalo.”
The governor of New York, Kathy Hochul, also tweeted that she was monitoring the situation, and asked people in Buffalo to “avoid the area and follow guidance from law enforcement and local officials.”
Last month, a “sniper-type” shooter opened fire in an upscale Washington neighborhood, wounding four people before taking his own life.
Police suspected that graphic video of that shooting which circulated online shortly afterward was filmed by the shooter himself, but have not confirmed the authenticity or if it was live-streamed.
