This article is a tribute to remember the Pulse Shooting on the one year anniversary of this horrific attack. My heart still goes out to the victims and their loved ones. I hope this article will help you reflect on the hate that led to the death of 49 innocent people just a year ago.
June 12, 2016
2:01 AM
A Saturday night of fun transitioned into Sunday morning at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Florida. Hundreds of people are dancing and enjoying themselves at the gay club's Latin Night. The energy is upbeat and free as people are able to express and celebrate themselves in a safe place. They are prideful in their sexuality and ethnicity. Happy and carefree.
2:02 AM
The first gunshot is fired. Chaos immediately follows. A man works his way through the club, shooting into the crowd and quickly creating a hostage situation. It isn't until 5:14 AM that the shooter is killed by police. The hours between the first gunshot and his death were filled with terror imaginable only in a human's worst nightmare. People hid in bathrooms. A woman put bodies on top of her to conceal herself from the shooter. It was hell.
Thousands of miles away, I woke up that morning blissfully unaware. I went downstairs to find the news already on, the anchor talking about the updates of the mass shooting as reports came in. My body froze in place as I took in the information. I'll never forget the onslaught of emotions that I felt. Confusion, sadness, anger, and fear all whirled in my mind trying to process what happened. I considered going back in the closet and hiding the part of me that took so long to accept and be proud of. I thought of how it could have been my friends and me out at a gay club, dancing and enjoying ourselves before being targeted and the victims of a hate crime. My world was forever changed.
One year ago, 49 people lost their lives and 58 people were injured. The survivors are forever haunted by this attack, and those who passed were robbed of their lives too soon. Families lost children and siblings, people lost their friends, lovers lost their partners. No matter how much time passes and the world moves on from the tragedy, the loved ones of the victims are forever changed and hurt.
Take a moment to read through the names of the victims killed.
Stanley Almodovar III, 23
Amanda Alvear, 25
Oscar A. Aracena-Montero, 26
Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala, 33
Alejandro Barrios Martinez, 21
Martin Benitez Torres, 33
Antonio D. Brown, 30
Darryl R. Burt II, 29
Jonathan A. Camuy Vega, 24
Angel L. Candelario-Padro, 28
Simon A. Carrillo Fernandez, 31
Juan Chevez-Martinez, 25
Luis D. Conde, 39
Cory J. Connell, 21
Tevin E. Crosby, 25
Franky J. Dejesus Velazquez, 50
Deonka D. Drayton, 32
Mercedez M. Flores, 26
Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz, 22
Juan R. Guerrero, 22
Paul T. Henry, 41
Frank Hernandez, 27
Miguel A. Honorato, 30
Javier Jorge-Reyes, 40
Jason B. Josaphat, 19
Eddie J. Justice, 30
Anthony L. Laureano Disla, 25
Christopher A. Leinonen, 32
Brenda L. Marquez McCool, 49
Jean C. Mendez Perez, 35
Akyra Monet Murray, 18
Kimberly Morris, 37
Jean C. Nieves Rodriguez, 27
Luis O. Ocasio-Capo, 20
Geraldo A. Ortiz-Jimenez, 25
Eric I. Ortiz-Rivera, 36
Joel Rayon Paniagua, 32
Enrique L. Rios Jr., 25
Juan P. Rivera Velazquez, 37
Yilmary Rodriguez Solivan, 24
Xavier E. Serrano Rosado, 35
Gilberto R. Silva Menendez, 25
Edward Sotomayor Jr., 34
Shane E. Tomlinson, 33
Leroy Valentin Fernandez, 25
Luis S. Vielma, 22
Luis D. Wilson-Leon, 37
Jerald A. Wright, 31
Tell the people in your life that you love them today and everyday. Spread love and understanding to one another, for that is the only way to fight the hatred and ignorance in the world. Remember the tragedy that took place at Pulse and, most importantly, remember that love will always win. Always.
