Orlando Strong: Mourning City Experiences International Outpouring of Support

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By Emily Zanotti and Sarah Rumpf | 10:16 pm, June 12, 2016
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As the country struggled to come to terms with the worst mass shooting in its history – an act of terrorism that took the lives of 50 people and injured 53 more – expressions of love and efforts at assistance poured into Orlando from across Florida and around the world.

In Orlando, so many people showed up to give blood that long lines quickly formed, with hundreds of people patiently waiting in the June heat to offer their assistance.

Florida bloodbank OneBlood’s website repeatedly crashed and their voicemail was full; at one OneBlood location, more than 600 people were lined up to donate. By early afternoon, OneBlood locations were at capacity. “I’ve been here 13 years and never seen a response like this,” said Pat Michaels, a spokesman for OneBlood told the Orlando Sentinel.

People also showed their appreciation for the Orlando Police Department, as it emerged that eleven local SWAT officers braved a “hail of gunfire” to neutralize gunman Omar Mateen, some even setting off a “controlled explosion” to distract Mateen as officers moved through the nightclub. One officer’s Kevlar helmet bears the battle scars:

Orlando residents brought food and drink for the officers throughout the day.

Area churches reached out to victims and their families, calling for prayers, encouraging congregations to give blood and support as needed, and announcing prayer services to pray for healing and for the lives lost.

Across Florida, donations poured in. Equality Florida, a Florida-based LGBT civil rights organization, set up a GoFundMe site to raise money for the victims and their families. In just a few hours, they flew past their goal of $500,000 and by Sunday evening had raised over $750,000 from over 18,000 donors.

At Disney and Universal Studios, park employees and visitors created makeshift tributes to friends and team members who were victims of the terrorist attack. One named victim, Luis Vielma, was listed as an employee of Universal.

Across the country LGBT organizations and supporters honored the victims. A vigil was held and a makeshift memorial set up at the Stonewall Inn in New York.

https://twitter.com/marciannomiller/status/742112668811595776

New York’s Freedom Tower was lit up with the Pride flag Sunday evening.

A candlelight vigil was held Sunday evening in Chicago’s Boystown neighborhood.

Signs and expressions of support were evident at LGBT Pride events in West Hollywood and in Washington DC.

June is LGBT Pride Month and many major cities are holding Pride events, drawing thousands. Most cities have expressed a willingness to go forward with Pride parades and other events, but will provide additional security.

And support did not stop at America’s borders. From France to Israel, the international community expressed their solidarity with today’s victims of terrorism. In Tel Aviv, Israel, City Hall was lit up with the Pride flag.

In Paris, which knows terrorism all too well, many took to the street to express their love for American victims of violence.

To those still looking to donate blood, the Red Cross is accepting appointments for donations across the country. Call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or 1-888-9DONATE (1-888-936-6283) to schedule your visit. If you have information pertinent to the ongoing investigation, please call the FBI Tip Line: 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324).

Follow Sarah Rumpf on Twitter: @rumpfshaker.

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