Chappelle is seen with Stevie Wonder, who headlined Sunday’s event
This is a SERIOUS event. +++ Names and talent come together to try and actually affect a city.
Dave Chappelle, Stevie Wonder, Chance the Rapper, Jon Stewart and Kanye West joined the 20,000 people who gathered in Dayton, Ohio’s Oregon District on Sunday to honor the victims of the deadly shooting less than a month ago.
The star-studded Gem City Shine event was hosted by comedian Chappelle, who lives just outside the city whose name became synonymous with American gun violence following the August 4 massacre when Connor Betts opened fire outside Ned Peppers Bar, killing nine and wounding 17 others before he was shot dead by police.
‘Don’t forget what this place is about,’ Chappelle told the crowd.
‘Mankind learned how to fly in this city. Nothing can break our spirit. You’re my friends and neighbors, and you give me strength.
‘The best way we can honor our fallen is by getting up better than we were before. We won’t let those people die in vain.’
The event raised money for survivors of the massacre and its victims: Monica Brickhouse, 39; Nicholas Cumer, 25; Derrick Fudge, 57; Thomas McNichols, 25; Lois Oglesby, 27; Saheed Saleh, 38; Logan Turner, 30; Megan Betts, 22; and Beatrice Warren Curtis, 36.