'We Must Remember Orlando': Thousands Attend Vigil For Massacre Victims, March To City Hall
“We’ve known gun violence before,” shouted Pastor Megan Rohrer to the thousands of people who gathered last night in the Castro
to mourn the 50 people killed at an Orlando nightclub over the weekend.
“Angry people of faith are not the majority. We are queer. We are
transgender. We are fabulous, we are faithful. We must stand up. We must
vote ... until everyone is safe in bathrooms, in churches, and in the
fucking streets.”
The crowds at the vigil were so large that community
members spilled out into the streets surrounding Harvey Milk Plaza,
amassing along Castro Street just south of Market. An SFPD officer at
the event estimated that 10,000 people were in attendance, though that
number has not yet been confirmed by authorities.
Photo: Nuala Sawyer/Hoodline
A
diverse group of community organizers and politicians spoke to the
crowd, many of whom were still reeling with grief, shock, and anger from
a tragedy that had occurred just 21 hours earlier.
Sister Roma and Sister Mary Peter from the Sisters of
Perpetual Indulgence accompanied Pastor Rohrer on stage for a religious
perspective on the shooting. The Sisters called upon spiritual leaders
across the country to “speak with compassion and love for all,” before
wishing that current and future leaders have the “courage to end this
cycle of mass violence and reject the politics of hate.”
Local
politicians who spoke at the event included Mayor Ed Lee, Senator Mark
Leno, Supervisor Scott Wiener, and Supervisor David Campos. Campos, who
is gay and Latino, spoke passionately on the struggles of queer people
of color. "As a gay Latino man, it is not shocking to me that the
biggest mass shooting would target the queer community, and also the
Latino community," he stated.
“The thing about [the LGBT Latino] community is we are
resilient," Campos said. "We have been through tough times, we are
sticking together, and we are gonna keep fighting to make sure that this
community is not forgotten.”
Campos
railed against a sense of complacency in the queer community, in light
of the recent legalization of gay marriage across the country. "We all
have to recommit ourselves to the work that remains," he said. "We want
our leaders to think of queer people of color not just when there's a
massacre, but every single day."
Like many of the other speakers, Campos expressed
opposition to Islamophobia and xenophobia. “We are all in this together.
I know that targeting the Muslim community is simply wrong, and we’re
going to speak out against it."
“We
need to be together. We need to carry on with the love our family and
friends, our allies, lovers, whatever. We need to carry on. We need to
battle,” said Latino Democratic Club president Lito Sandoval, who also
stated that he and members of his community had to ask to attend and
speak at the vigil, because they had not initially been invited. “Latino
leaders were not contacted; we had to reach out.”
While, as Sandoval said, “the attack was on queer and Latino communities,” the crowd at the vigil was diverse.
“Look around you, this is your community," Sandoval said.
"We need to choose inclusiveness, choose love, choose each other, choose
integrity, choose solidarity, and not allow us to erase each other.
None of us are free until all of us are free."
Mayor Ed Lee also spoke at the vigil, amidst both boos and
applause from the crowd. "Hatred will not drive out hatred, and darkness
will not drive out the dark," he said. "I join you all to make sure
that we lead the way, and keep our LGBTQ community safe."
In
addition to politicians, interim Police Chief Toney Chaplin, who was
recently appointed after Chief Greg Suhr resigned, spoke briefly to
attendees. "The NRA is a powerful group, but I am staring at a more
powerful group," he said, drawing cheers from the crowd.
Chaplin encouraged those in attendance to get out and vote
for politicians who support gun control laws. “Get out there and go show
your support for folks. We need to get this legislation in place to
change the gun laws in this country,” he said.
But the largest applause from the crowd was reserved for
Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, who opened his speech with the simple phrase
"Fuck the NRA." Joking that the organization's moniker stands for
"national real assholes," Ammiano's speech was filled with humor, but
also powerful messages. "Is that a gun in your pocket?" he asked the
crowd. "Because I'm not happy to see you."
Photo: Randall Sarafa/Hoodline
Upon reaching City Hall, the mood remained somber as the names of victims were read aloud. “We must remember Orlando,” said one organizer. Before heading home, many left their candles, still lit, beneath the backdrop of City Hall's rainbow lights.
Photo: Noah Whiteman/Hoodline
“As members of the LGBTQ community, as Americans, and as those who believe in freedom and the rule of law, we must continue undeterred in our quest for full and equal rights for everyone. We are unbowed and unbroken by this attack, and will continue on in the memory of those who lost their lives for simply expressing their true selves.”
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