Thousands Gather in Orlando for Somber Vigil

4 minute read

They held burning candles aloft in tearful silence as the single church bell tolled, the pauses between chimes just long enough to dull the anticipation of the next. For nearly five minutes the bell atop Orlando’s First United Methodist Church rang 49 times, the echoes reverberating across the plaza across from city hall. Each represented one of the 49 lives lost early Sunday morning when a hate-filled gunman opened fire at the Pulse nightclub one mile away.

Nearly 10,000 people filled the square in downtown Orlando in the searing evening heat to mourn those lost and pray for the injured. Local political, law enforcement and faith leaders joined with Latino and LGBT leaders to try to begin the healing process after the worst mass shooting in American history — and the largest terrorist attack in the country since 9/11.

“Tonight we remain a city in pain,” Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said, flanked by local leaders and Orlando police chief John Mina, credited with ordering the operation that rescued dozens trapped inside the nightclub. “We are mourning and we are angry.”

The vigil marked a somber day of grim accounting in the city, as medical examiners completed the identification of the dead and officials finished the notification of family members of the fallen — a task completed just before the vigil began. The Orlando Gay Chorus performed Cyndi Lauper’s “True Colors” and the Beatles’ “Let It Be,” as hundreds of people held homemade signs, rainbow and American flags and flowers toward a makeshift memorial on the green in front of the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts.

But through the agony, Dyer predicted the city would emerge stronger from the tragedy. “We can’t wait to show the world that joy and love conquers hate,” he said. “Hate will not define us. Hate will not defeat us. Because we are One Orlando.”

He announced the formation of the One Orlando Fund, a nonprofit to help the victims and their families — 53 were injured in the attack, and dozens remain hospitalized — which raised more than $700,000 in its first few hours from local businesses.

Scenes From the Tragic Aftermath of the Orlando Pulse Nightclub Shooting

Police officers direct family members away from a shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla., on June 12, 2016.
Police officers direct family members away from a shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla., on June 12, 2016. Phelan M. Ebenhack—AP
Police and forensics investigators work at the crime scene of the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Fla., on June 12, 2016.
Police and forensics investigators work at the crime scene of the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Fla., on June 12, 2016. Carlo Allegri—Reuters
Friends and family members embrace outside the Orlando Police Headquarters during the investigation of a shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla., on June 13, 2016.
Friends and family members embrace outside the Orlando Police Headquarters during the investigation of a shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla., on June 13, 2016. Steve Nesius—Reuters
Police investigate the Pulse nightclub following a mass shooting in Orlando, Fla., on June 12, 2016.
Police investigate the Pulse nightclub following a mass shooting in Orlando, Fla., on June 12, 2016.Christopher Morris—VII for TIME
Tatiana Osorio cries while giving blood at the OneBlood blood center near the mass shooting at a nightclub in Orlando, Fla., on June 13, 2016. Osorio lost three friends in the shooting.
Tatiana Osorio cries while giving blood at the OneBlood blood center near the mass shooting at a nightclub in Orlando, Fla., on June 13, 2016. Osorio lost three friends in the shooting. David Goldman—AP
A memorial honors the victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting at the Dr. Phillips Center for Performing Arts in Orlando, Fla., on June 13, 2016.
A memorial honors the victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting at the Dr. Phillips Center for Performing Arts in Orlando, Fla., on June 13, 2016.Christopher Morris—VII for TIME
A woman reacts as authorities investigate Pulse following a mass shooting in Orlando, Fla., on June 12, 2016.
A woman reacts as authorities investigate Pulse following a mass shooting in Orlando, Fla., on June 12, 2016.Christopher Morris—VII for TIME
A reporter pauses at the Hampton Inn where relatives of victims gather for information in Orlando, Fla., on June, 12, 2016.
A reporter pauses at the Hampton Inn where relatives of victims gather for information in Orlando, Fla., on June, 12, 2016.Christopher Morris—VII for TIME
A remembrance for Eric Rivera, killed in the mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub, sits amongst a makeshift memorial for the victims in Orlando, Fla., on June 13, 2016.
A remembrance for Eric Rivera, killed in the mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub, sits amongst a makeshift memorial for the victims in Orlando, Fla., on June 13, 2016.David Goldman—AP
Mourners attend a makeshift vigil for victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Fla., on June 13, 2016.
Mourners attend a makeshift vigil for victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Fla., on June 13, 2016.Christopher Morris—VII for TIME
Hundreds of people gather at a memorial outside of the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando, Fla., on June 13, 2016.
Hundreds of people gather at a memorial outside of the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando, Fla., on June 13, 2016.John Taggart—EPA
A memorial honors victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting at the Dr. Phillips Center for Performing Arts in Orlando, Fla., on June 13, 2016.
A memorial honors victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting at the Dr. Phillips Center for Performing Arts in Orlando, Fla., on June 13, 2016.Christopher Morris—VII for TIME
A mourner attends a makeshift vigil and a moment of silence for victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Fla., on June 12, 2016.
A mourner attends a makeshift vigil and a moment of silence for victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Fla., on June 12, 2016.Christopher Morris—VII for TIME
Reporters wait to interview relatives of victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Fla., on June 13, 2016.
Reporters wait to interview relatives of victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Fla., on June 13, 2016.Christopher Morris—VII for TIME
Seddique Mateen, father of Pulse nightclub gunman Omar Mateen, outside his home in Port Saint Lucie, Fla., on June 14, 2016.
Seddique Mateen, father of Pulse nightclub gunman Omar Mateen, outside his home in Port Saint Lucie, Fla., on June 14, 2016.Christopher Morris—VII for TIME
U.S. President Barack Obama (R) and Vice President Joe Biden depart a makeshift memorial after placing flowers in memory of shooting victims of the massacre at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, U.S., June 16, 2016. REUTERS/Carlos Barria -TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden depart a makeshift memorial after placing flowers in memory of shooting victims of the massacre at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla., on June 16, 2016. Carlos Barria—Reuters
Mourners attend a makeshift vigil and a moment of silence for victims of the mass shooting in Orlando, Fla., on June 12, 2016.
Mourners attend a makeshift vigil and a moment of silence for victims of the mass shooting in Orlando, Fla., on June 12, 2016.Christopher Morris—VII for TIME

Imam Muhammad Musri, president of the Islamic Society of Central Florida, joined the Rev. Bryan Fulwider on stage to condemn the atrocity committed by Omar Mateen, a Muslim who officials said was radicalized online and pledged allegiance to ISIS before he was killed in a shootout with police officers.

“We are deeply hurt,” Musri said. “Our heart is broken. Our lives are upside down … We cannot believe that someone who claims my peaceful faith brought a massacre, an atrocity on our city.”

Musri called on Muslim leaders across the country to gather on the National Mall in Washington next month to condemn extremism. “We call on Muslim leaders around the world to stand up and deal with this cancer once and for all,” he said.

“We are all part of the Latino community. We are all part of the Islamic community here in Orlando,” Fulwider said.

Neema Bahrami, the manager of the LGBT nightclub, joined more than two dozen Pulse employees past and present to proclaim that the nightclub will rebuild.

“I want you to know we are not leaving,” he said. “We are here to stay. We will be bigger and better than you can ever imagine. We will not be defeated. We are here to stay.”

A formal memorial service was being set for Thursday, with President Obama planning a trip to the city, the White House said late Monday.

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