About 700 members of Buffalo's African-American community tonight shared their grievances with Buffalo News Editor Margaret Sullivan over an Aug. 22 article on the criminal backgrounds of victims of the shooting at the City Grill three weeks ago.

The forum, held in True Bethel Baptist Church, 907 E. Ferry St., was one that Sullivan had requested following negative reaction to the report.

Many in the crowd expressed outrage that the police records of the shooting victims were reported at all. They called the report a gross departure from how The News traditionally treats crime victims and that it was disrespectful to the victims, their families and the African-American community.

"I feel that we were victimized twice," said Cheryl Stevens, mother-in-law of Danyelle Mackin, one four victims who was killed in the shooting.

She was one of four family members of the victims invited to address Sullivan during the forum.

"What you did to us was you poured salt on the wounds that had not even healed. So, I'm asking -- and this is for all the families -- we want an apology," added Stevens.

Others who were specifically invited to speak included former Buffalo Common Council President George K. Arthur, who offered a historical perspective on the African-American community's grievances with The News' coverage of its community. The Rev. Matthew Brown and Murray Holman of STOP the Violence Coalition also offered their perspectives, charging the newspaper did not often respect black people's feelings and that it showed a historic pattern of insensitivity in its coverage of the community.

Sullivan said she was pleased she was able able to listen to the views and explain the editorial decision behind the publication of the Aug. 22 story.

"I really am not here to try to do a point-counterpoint to everything that I've heard because I don't think that would be possible and my main purpose in being here is to listen," she said.

"I do want to say that the way The Buffalo News is being portrayed, at least, in terms of our intention and what we try to do every day is, essentially, unrecognizable to me. I know that the people I work with feel very deeply, that they care about this community. They care about you," Sullivan said.

Among the several-hundred people present at the forum, grumblings greeted Sullivan's opening remarks. And when members of the public got an opportunity to address her, they didn't mince words.

"It was an article concerning four victims that has brought us together," said the Rev. Darius G. Pridgen. "However, it is the decades-old perception of many in the community that must be addressed tonight.

"Tonight, this meeting is not designed to be a combat session, but a night of progression. Anyone can complain. Complaining is easy, but finding solutions that meet the needs of all involved takes time, effort and commitment," he added.

"So, it is our hope that tonight will not be a one-stop meeting with The Buffalo News and this community, but that this dialog takes us to another level of understanding and unity in our community," said Pridgen.

After the encounter, Sullivan summed up her perspective on the evening.

"It was a very tough night," she said. "People were venting very raw emotions. The most important thing for me was to listen, and I hope people felt that they were heard. That's the main thing that matters to me.

"And I also hope that we can now start a healing process where we can move this conversation forward, and I think that we've actually taken some steps to do that by agreeing to have some meetings and to do some research about what The Buffalo News prints about the African-American community.

"So I do feel hopeful that this is a beginning, although a very tough beginning, of something positive," she said.

hmcneil@buffnews.comnull