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Challenger Community News • t hec hallengernews.com •Januar y 7, 2021
PRAYER VIGIL 2021 For The Buffalo Five BY SHERRY SHERRILL
On Monday, January 18 starting at 5:30 p.m. and lasting for approximately 30 minutes John H. Walker, Jr. and Darryl Boyd, collectively known as 'The Buffalo 5', will convene a PRAYER VIGIL that will be broadcast on Legendary Mix WUFO1080 AM and Power 96.5FM. Numerous local clergy will be joining them; filling the broadcast with powerful prayer that will support the men concerning their court battle to gain a thorough exoneration of their wrongful 1977 murder indictments and convictions. The five members of 'The Buffalo 5', are: John Walker, Jr., Darryl Boyd, Darryn Gibson, Floyd Martin, and Tyrone Woodruff. Both Walker, Boyd, and Darryn Gibson (prior to his death), have persistently proclaimed their innocence of the robbery and murder of William Crawford, an elderly gentleman who
The Buffalo 5 are a group of five African-American men who, as 16 year old teenagers in 1976, were falsely accused and wrongly arrested, indicted, tried (in 1977) , convicted, and imprisoned for a brutal crime that they did not commit. •What did their original 1977 trials concern? The original trials of The Buffalo 5, were for the murder of a man named William Crawford. Crawford was beaten to death and robbed in the early hours of Jan. 2, 1976. •Why are The Buffalo 5 important? One of The Buffalo 5, Tyrone Woodruf, after being 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, evidence that could have 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! •How many years did The Buffalo 5 spend in prison?
was robbed and beaten to death after leaving The Gold Nugget Bar and Lounge, on Jan. 2, 1976. Crime scene photographic evidence supported the conclusion that there was a lone assailant, not five, but no DNA evidence was ever presented at time of the 1977 trials. Altogether, the three (convicted) members of The Buffalo 5 spent over 84 years in prison, for a crime that they did not commit. At 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, January 20 Walker and Boyd will return to NYS Supreme Court in downtown Buffalo, where Erie County District Attorney John Flynn is opposing their Motion to Vacate Judgment of Indictment 41-413. Judge Christopher J. Burns will be ruling whether a 1976 crime scene photograph of a lone assailant's footprint constitutes “New Evidence” in the Matter(s) of John Walker, Jr. and Darryl Boyd. If so, “The Buffalo 5” will be set upon a path that will lead to their complete exoneration.
Who are The Buffalo 5?
have become the most recognizable faces of The Buffalo 5. •Where does The Buffalo 5 matter stand, right now? A preliminary Hearing on a Motion To Vacate Indictment 41-413 was held Dec. 2, 2020. That is The Bufalo 5's indictment number. A second Hearing will take place on Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. The goal is to overturn The Bufalo 5's 1977 convictons.
URGE DA FLYNN TO REMOVE THE KNEE OF INJUSTICE FROM THE NECKS OF THESE INNOCENT BLACK MEN! After Years of Injustice and Suffering for a crime they did not commit, John Walker (center in wheelchair) and Darryl Boyd (to his immediate left) - two innocent men - will appear in NYS Supreme Court at 9:30 AM 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 Collectvely, the three convicted members of The Bufalo 5 spent an aggregate total of 84 years in New York State prison. •Why are there only 2 individuals representng The
FREE THE BUFFALO 5!
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 out-of-state. John Walker, Jr. and Darryl Boyd, therefore,
Community Champions Honored The Communities of Giving Legacy Initiative’s 2020 Pay it Forward Award recipients were honored at its annual Pay It Forward Awards held virtually in November. The 2020 Pay It Forward honorees are: Zandra Cunningham, Zandra Beauty; Tommy McClam & Daniel Robertson, Boys and Young Men of Color Initiative of the Racial Equity Roundtable; Renee Mapp, SUNY Buffalo; and Marilyn Young, Women Against Violence Everywhere.The award recognizes personal and professional accomplishments and how those actions increase philanthropy in communities of color. Emphasis is placed on service to the community and educating the next generation, with a focus on showcasing community champions that reflect the multicultural and ethnic diversity of the Communities of Giving Legacy Initiative’s mission. Congratulations Awardees! You can watch the full ceremony, including performances and a panel discussion with the honorees at https://youtu.be/XhoA6xBn5tc
Roswell Park Brightens the Holidays for its Neighbors
Roswell Park is not only a world-class cancer center — it’s a family of people offering a helping hand to others in the City of Good Neighbors. The hospital and its staff promote the overall health and wellness of everyone who calls Buffalo home, providing assistance and good cheer. That’s especially true during the holiday season. Between November and December holidays, Roswell Park employees came together to help make the season brighter for our neighbors who 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. “Roswell Park fosters health and wellness beyond the cancer care we provide,” says David Scott, 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.
The community is asked to call D.A. John Flynn (716) 858-2424 Extension 1, and ask him to NOT oppose the Motion To Vacate Indictment 41-413.
