Dave Chappelle is doing his part to honor the Dayton, Ohio, mass shooting victims by hosting a free block party and benefit concert on Sunday, August 25, in Dayton’s Oregon District.
Nine people were killed and over a dozen injured after gunman Connor Betts opened fire not long after midnight August 3 at a popular nightlife area. And the block party, which is also a fundraiser, will take place in that same section.
The block party is called “Gem City Shine,” and, according to a Facebook page, it was organized by “several community partners.” Chappelle lives in nearby Yellow Springs, Ohio, and has hosted events in the state before.
Although the block party is free, attendees will need a ticket, which are restricted to residents of Dayton, and people who live in “the surrounding areas.” But according to Ticketmaster.com, registration is already closed.
A commemorative T-shirt will be given to attendees of the event, who will then be asked to donate at least $20 that will go to the Dayton Foundation, who announced a tragedy fund on the day of the shooting.
The lineup for the concert has yet to be announced, and about 20,000 people are expected to be in attendance.
News of Chappelle hosting the event comes shortly after the singer Khalid announced that he’d be putting on a benefit concert in his hometown of El Paso, Texas, where Patrick Crusius killed 22 people and injured dozens in a mass shooting on August 3, mere hours before the Dayton shooting. The concert will be held on September 1 at El Paso’s Don Haskins Center.
As for the Dayton block party, organizers said besides raising money, they want to “reclaim the community’s favorite places to shop, dine and enjoy time with family and friends.”
The announcement of the block party also comes shortly after it was revealed that Chappelle’s new Netflix comedy special “Sticks & Stones” will premiere on August 26.
