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49 innocent lives: Pulse Remembrance Day in Florida

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June is Pride Month

From Staff Reports and Florida Phoenix

Flags were at half-staff Saturday, June 12, 2021 from sunrise to sunset, commemorating the 49 lives lost and 53 wounded from the mass shooting at Orlando’s Pulse Nightclub on June 12, 2016.

A proclamation from Governor Ron DeSantis asked residents to pause for a moment of silence.

“The state of Florida will not tolerate hatred towards the LGBTQ and Hispanic communities, and together we stand united against terrorism and hate of any kind,” the proclamation says.

“We continue to pray for the victims, survivors, families and friends of all those lost and will always remember that the Orlando community and all Floridians stand united and resilient in the face of great tragedy.”

The 49 victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando

The proclamation lists the names of all 49 lives lost:

Stanley Almodovar III

Amanda L. Alvear

Oscar A. Aracena-Montero

Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala

Antonio Davon Brown

Darryl Roman Burt II

Angel Candelario-Padro

Juan Chavez Martinez

Luis Daniel Conde

Cory James Connell

Tevin Eugene Crosby

Deonka Diedra Drayton

Simón Adrian Carrillo Fernández

Leroy Valentin Fernandez

Mercedez Marisol Flores

Peter Ommy Gonzalez-Cruz

Juan Ramon Guerrero

Paul Terrell Henry

Frank Hernandez

Miguel Angel Honorato

Javier Jorge Reyes

Jason Benjamin Josaphat

Eddie Jamaldroy Justice

Anthony Luis Laureano Disla

Christopher Andrew Leinonen

Alejandro Barrios Martinez

Brenda Lee Marquez McCool

Gilberto R. Silva Menendez

Kimberly Jean Morris

Akyra Monet Murray

Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo

Gerardo A. Ortiz Jimenez

Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera

Joel Rayon Paniagua

Jean Carlos Mendez Perez

Enrique L. Rios, Jr.

Jean Carlos Nieves Rodríguez

Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado

Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz

Yilmary Rodríguez Solivan

Eddie Sotomayor, Jr.

Shane Evan Tomlinson

Martin Benitez Torres

Jonathan A. Camuy Vega

Juan Pablo Rivera Velázquez

Luis Sergio Vielma

Franky Jimmy DeJesus Velázquez

Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon

Jerald Arthur Wright

Statement from US Congresswoman Val Demings, 10th District, made on June 12, 2021

"It has been five years but it feels like yesterday. Today I am thinking of the 49 who we lost—49 human beings, 49 dreams, 49 futures, 49 families missing a loved one. I am thinking of the survivors who still need our fullest support as they work through physical and mental wounds. I am thinking of the families with an empty seat at the table. Nothing can bring back what was lost, but we can do everything in our power to fill that void with love, support, and a commitment to care for our community not only today, but in the years to come.

I echo our mayor to say to the survivors and family members of Pulse: it’s okay to not be okay. This was a tragedy. The nation may have watched and grieved with us, but the pain that you may be feeling is personal. I want you to know that we embrace you with love, not as symbols but as yourselves. If you are struggling, there is help available, and I encourage you to reach out.

It can be hard to find the words, because the truth is that no words can make this right for the survivors and families of those we lost. That’s why five years ago we promised to ‘honor them with action,’ not just with words. As we move forward from this anniversary, it is my prayer that all of us will recommit ourselves to that mission, to ensure that every Pulse survivor—and every American—can live in a nation where each person is safe to go out to a nightclub or any other place, where our LGBTQ community is protected, where the highest-quality mental health support is available to those who need it, and where we treat gun violence as the threat that it is to our loved ones. I know that we can do better, and as we commemorate this sorrowful anniversary, I believe that we must do better.”

Statement from US Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy, 7th District, made on June 12, 2021

"Today marks five years since a gunman took the lives of 49 innocent victims at the Pulse nightclub, most of them members of our LGBTQ+ community. We are still reeling from that loss, and my heart is with all of you who are hurting today.

The memory of the Pulse victims and their legacies continues to inspire me personally – and all of us – to push for action and demand change. Since that tragedy, we’ve worked hard to build a better, more inclusive community in Florida. And we continue fighting to ensure every person in this country is treated equally regardless of who they are or who they love.

Last month, I joined my colleagues in Congress to introduce a bill to designate Pulse as a National Memorial site. As of this week, both the House and Senate have passed the bill and it will now go to the President's desk to be signed into law. Designating this site is about more than building a monument to mourn those we lost. It will be a physical reminder that our work won't be complete until we ensure the lives of the victims were not lost in vain.

June is also Pride Month. As we recognize the contributions of LGBTQ+ Americans and remember the tragedy that scarred our community 5 years ago, you have my word I will continue to honor the memories of the victims not just with words, but with resolute action."

Anniversary, Governor Ron DeSantis, Hispanic, LGBTQ, Lives Lost, Mass Shooting, Memorial, Pride Month, Pulse Nightclub, US Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy District 7, US Congresswoman Val Demings District 10, Wounded

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