America's heart is breaking. Again.
A gunman unleashed devastation dashing away 49 innocent lives at Orlando’s Pulse nightclub on Latin night early Sunday morning, injuring 53 more. It's the deadliest mass shooting in American history.There is no right response for this despite the fact that mass killings like this are way too often in this country. Details are slipping out including how most of the victims were gay and Latino.
But the overwhelming responses from everyday Americans reminds us why this country WILL withstand and overcome intolerance and intolerance.
This was the next day after news of the shootings had spread across the country. These are people lined around the block waiting to donate blood. Hundreds and hundreds of people.
They're coming together to help in whatever way they can.
This is an aerial shot showing that people don't give a damn about the wait. Last Week Tonight's John Oliver described it as:
"Hundreds and hundreds of people this morning lining up around the block in Florida waiting to donate blood, and it kind of reminds you that this terrorist dipsh-t is vastly outnumbered."
In the past couple days since then, there have been public gatherings of people unafraid to express the love that the shooter tried desperately to snuff out.
These Americans are gathered outside of Stonewall Inn named after the infamous Stonewall Riots in New York in 1969.
There is a GoFundMe campaign to help the victims of the Orlando Pulse club shooting which is working in partnership with National Center for Victims of Crime.
They're working with the National Compassion Fund to "ensure that every penny donated will be correctly and quickly dispersed to the victims and families."They're using the hastag #WeAreOrlando and so far $2.8 million has been pledged.Donate here.Last Week Tonight's host John Oliver didn't hold back words saying:
"And for the record, I will happily embrace a Latin night at a gay club in the theme park capital of the world as the ultimate symbol of what is truly wonderful about America."But our resilience goes even further. Both Adele and the Tony Awards had TWO points where the Orlando victims were FRONT and center...
The Tony Awards also started with a cold open with James Corden saying that "hate will never win" and that we stand with the victims.
Anyone watching the red carpet before the event also noticed that celebrities had translucent white ribbons on their lapels and their dresses to show their solidarity with the victims.
James Corden's opening including saying to the victims, "You are not on your own."
Hamilton's Lin Manuel Miranda edited his "sonnet" during hisacceptance speech to pay a powerful tribute to the Orlando victims.
When senseless acts of tragedy remind us that nothing here is promised, not one dayThe show is proof that history remembers,We live through times when hate and fear seem strongerWe rise and fall and light from dying embersRemembrances that hope and love last longerAnd love is love is love is love is love is love is love is love."Adele opened her concert in Belgium tearfully dedicating her concert to the victims of Orlando.
She said members of the LGBT community were “like my soulmates since I was really young, so I’m really moved by it,” she said, after telling a crowd that the concert was dedicated to “everybody in Orlando at Pulse nightclub last night.”This is CAIR's Executive Director and Muslim Nihad Awad addressing ISIS and the shooter saying: "You do not speak for us. You do not represent us."
And finally President Obama and people on Twitter shared their thoughts...
SHAREand tell us what you're feeling after the Orlando attacks.
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