Central Florida marks 7 years since the deadly Pulse nightclub mass shooting
Seven years ago, Orlando was forever changed by an attack at a popular LGBTQ+ nightclub.
The 49 victims were sons and daughters, fathers and mothers, sisters and brothers, friends and colleagues. And they were loved by so many.
The Pulse nightclub shooting is one of the worst mass killings in America and the deadliest act of violence against the LGBTQ+ community.
People from all over are spreading love on dozens of prayer ribbons hanging between two trees in front of Orlando City Hall.
They include the names of all 49 victims along with messages from loved ones.
Monday night, survivors, first responders, and families that lost loved ones gathered for the annual remembrance ceremony. The theme this year was "Strength."
The names of all 49 angels, as they were called, were read. And loved ones shared memories of the brothers, sons, and daughters they lost.
"Since the Pulse tragedy, we make a conscious effort every single day to focus on how Shane lived his life and the joy that he brought us instead of how he tragically departed from us," said Steve Tomlinson, the father of Shane E. Tomlinson.
"Above all, Dee Dee was a kind and compassionate person who never met a stranger," said Andrea Drayton, the mother of Deonka "Dee Dee" Drayton.
And of Eddie Justice, his mother, Mina Justice, said, "He just loved people in general. Loved making them laugh."
She lost her son at Pulse seven years ago. She lives in Georgia now, but she's in Orlando every June 12.
"Every year," Justice said. "I'm never going to miss it. Till my last breath, I'm going to come out and honor the 49. Not just my son, the 49."
And every year, she says it's an opportunity to connect with another family dealing with the same grief she is.
"You hear stories every year, and you meet people that you haven't met the first time or the second time or the third time," Justice said. "So you keep meeting them, and you feel their pain, and you're there for them."
She thinks Eddie would be happy she keeps coming back.
"He knows that we're honoring him, and he's looking down on us, and he's smiling," Justice said. "I know he's saying, 'Mom, I'm OK.' But it still doesn't take the pain away."
The attack seven years ago happened early in the morning years ago.
Seven years later, the image of the 49 innocent people who were shot and killed is starting to fade away, weathered by the Florida sun.
But the faces remain haunting, and what happened remains haunting.
On June 12, 2016, at about 2 a.m., the gunman walked into the nightclub and started killing people on the dance floor and in the restrooms.
Orlando Torres was there hiding in a restroom.
"And sure enough, within minutes, he came in there. I (could) hear the big popping sounds and shooting at the handicap stall behind us, and then exited and came back. I tried to call 911, but the lines (were) all busy," Torres said. "And when he came back in, he said, 'Please do not text,' and I'm thinking, 'My God, this guy has the nerve to be shooting and then come back in and ask people in the handicap stall, please do not text.'"
While the gunman continued to stalk and shoot people, victims were trapped inside the club for hours.
Law enforcement tried to negotiate with and, at times, shoot at the gunman.
When the city of Orlando held a news conference and told the world 50 people were dead, including the shooter, you could have heard a pin drop.
At Pulse, seven years later, you could hear a pin drop. Not much in the way of talk, just expressions of sadness and tears.
"Just looking at it makes me want to cry — the hate that must have been involved in the shooting and all the hate we have now," resident Tori David said.
"I see these pictures, and it's just tragic. I saw a woman here crying. It brought a feeling of mourning. Just mourning for people," resident Richard Lorenzo said.
Some people came overnight to pay their respects. Candles burn next to a picture of some of the victims. There are balloons as well.
This year, many of the victims' families are still waiting for a permanent memorial and museum.
The onePULSE Foundation could not reach an agreement with the owners of the nightclub itself, and the costs for plans ballooned, so the foundation is trying to work out where the best place for that memorial would be.
Monday night's ceremony was at the Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center in downtown.
The victims’ family members, along with first responders and community leaders, were there for the event.
Also, in honor of Pulse Remembrance Day, Gov. Ron DeSantis asked for flags to be flown at half-staff.
He said this is a mark of respect for the victims, their families and the many affected by this tragedy.
Flags will be at half-staff across the states until sunset.
Other events
The Orange County Regional History Center hosted the Pulse memorial crosses in honor of the 49 and the many others impacted by the shooting.
At 4 p.m., the church bells rang 49 times at First United Methodist Church on East Jackson Street in Orlando. It's an annual event as part of the One Orlando Alliance movement known as Acts of Love and Kindness. The goal is to inspire others to volunteer, share stories and show support through those acts.
There are other ways you can honor the 49. The onePULSE Foundation has a full list of more upcoming events on its website.
A week of remembrance kicked off on June 3. At the CommUNITY Rainbow Run event, thousands filled the streets of Orlando with pride, running, walking, and showing support for the LGBTQ+ community.
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