In the early hours of Sunday morning, the biggest mass shooting in American history took place at a gay club in Orlando, Florida, and left 50 dead and at least 52 injured.
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“Tragically, what we are waking up to in the United States today is that the growing number of mass shootings in the USA increases the number of Americans with a personal connection to a Roseburg, a Charleston, a Columbine, and now, an Orlando”, her statement read.
In a statement Sunday, Portland Mayor Charlie Hales called on the local community to stand together in support of the LGBTQ community. “Love can conquer all”, Tory said.
Executive Director of the Muslim Alliance of Indiana Rima Khan Shahid said the alliance was shocked and horrified to hear about the mass shooting in Orlando. “We condemn those who spread fear and hatred”, said Tory in an emailed statement June 12-a day after more than 50 people were murdered in what U.S. President Barack Obama declared an act of terror and hate.
The group said the festival would go on as planned. “It brings it right in front of our eyes, where we can really feel it”, said Robbie Butler, member of the LGBTQ community.
“I asked everyone what they were going to do”, Laca said.
The candlelight vigil started at 8 p.m.at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, near the corner of College Avenue and Dickson Street, according to its Facebook event page.
Rob Domenico, a board member of The Center Orlando, an LGBTQ advocacy and support center in the city, said “absolute devastation” is being felt across the city’s LGBTQ community.
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With attention focused again on the prejudices that too-often surround media reporting of mass killings, for many, CNN political commentator Sally Kohn summed up the frustrations with one tweet: Muslim shooter = entire religion guilty. “In the coming days, we will learn more details about the tragic events in Orlando and the men and women we lost in yet another tragic shooting”.
