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Scores Gather Outside Pulse To Honor Massacre Victims

Barbara Poma, from left, owner of Pulse nightclub, Patty Sheehan, city commissioner, and Regina Hill, city commissioner, attend a public remembrance ceremony Monday, June 12, 2017, at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla., in honor of the 49 people who lost their lives in the shooting one year ago.
Associated Press
Barbara Poma, from left, owner of Pulse nightclub, Patty Sheehan, city commissioner, and Regina Hill, city commissioner, attend a public remembrance ceremony Monday, June 12, 2017, at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla., in honor of the 49 people who lost their lives in the shooting one year ago.
San Diego LGBT Groups Plan Services For Pulse Nightclub Victims
San Diego LGBT Groups Plan Services For Pulse Nightclub Victims GUESTS: Max Disposti, executive director, North County LGBTQ Resource Center Cara Dessert, chief development and engagement officer, San Diego LGBT Community Center

Today marks a painful memory for the LGBTQ community. The shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando was one year ago that left 49 people dead. The theme of events to commemorate the day and move the conversation forward is honor them with action. The communities in both San Diego and North County plan to remember the event in slightly different ways. Here to tell us about it we have Max whose the executive director of the North County resort center. We have care who is chief development and engagement officer of the San Diego LGBT community. Why don't you just start with what you plan to do to remember the victims is met with the community center we link to the national campaign of honors that was actually created by the community and we like the idea of Memorial that was linked to actions that our community members could relate to not just more those that were killed but also to move forward in a positive way trying to figure out what are the ways that like to remember them as well. Strive to put dissipate with everyone on the site. Is called action news trading awareness standing up for our neighbors no matter who they are community as well. Let's come back to the specifics on that in a minute. How is it going to be honored in San Diego. The LGBT community center will host a brief ceremony at the center. Everybody is welcome to join us as we come together community and honor and remember the victims and survivors of the postmaster. We will display pictures of the victims as well as read the names out loud and we will have coffee in the Latino services center. The Orlando tragedy shook the LGBT and Latino communities to the core. The number for the community with the large LGBTQ Latino population we certainly felt the tragedy. What kind of actions to raise community awareness you were talking about For the last few months there have been a lot of movements around the country on the County as well. People are just trying to reject the X of witch hunting Eva call just a few days after the Orlando massacre there was intent to -- today they would be there with us and has not been the first time. Ever since we had an incredible number of collaborations as well. The idea is to create awareness in the community where no sort of hate or witch hunting or general accusations and it creates a sense of fear that will push back. Are participating to the numerous event around the County and creating solidarity. We want to come together and resist across the country and here locally both in the city of San Diego and North County to resist attempts to marginalize the community. We are immigrants and Latinos and the nation and lack and white and we are seniors youth and everyone in between. They will come together and fight for equality and justice. There are some that were positively impacted at the poles -- Pulse shootings. It created a new generation of young [ NULL ] grassroots leaders of color that you see it happening? We are dynamic and strong community can come from inspiration so I do see young people particularly coming together and leading. Attitudes are really changing and what would you say about the new leadership of color in the community. We have to do more to reach out to the diversity sometimes it is not find a place and a voice to be represented by the will always be trying with the diversity and we wanted to make sure that we understood that LGBT people are people of color and muscle people and different faiths and backgrounds. We are everywhere in different demographics as well. When you look at how things are changing do you still select the community is under attack. I feel I need more voices besides LGBT community that has the courage to stand up they are not taking the time and they're not reason the voices in solidarity when tragedy like that happens. They need to do a better Trump have a stronger progressive move into the North County. They need to find the representatives that can voice that. Earlier today President Trump issued a tweet about the post nightclub shooting. He said we will never forget the victims who lost their lives one year ago today in the horrific Pulse nightclub shooting. What is your reaction? I am glad that the president is acknowledging and honoring what was a horrific attack on the LGBT and LGBTQ community but that is not enough. We have an administration that has not publicly acknowledge this is pride month. We are seeing nationally our community under attack. It is certainly not enough but I am glad that the president has not acknowledged it. Big you so much for coming. Thank you.

Today marks a painful memory for the LGBTQ community. The shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando was one year ago that left 49 people dead. The theme of events to commemorate the day and move the conversation forward is honor them with action. The communities in both San Diego and North County plan to remember the event in slightly different ways. Here to tell us about it we have Max whose the executive director of the North County resort center. We have care who is chief development and engagement officer of the San Diego LGBT community. Why don't you just start with what you plan to do to remember the victims is met with the community center we link to the national campaign of honors that was actually created by the community and we like the idea of Memorial that was linked to actions that our community members could relate to not just more those that were killed but also to move forward in a positive way trying to figure out what are the ways that like to remember them as well. Strive to put dissipate with everyone on the site. Is called action news trading awareness standing up for our neighbors no matter who they are community as well. Let's come back to the specifics on that in a minute. How is it going to be honored in San Diego. The LGBT community center will host a brief ceremony at the center. Everybody is welcome to join us as we come together community and honor and remember the victims and survivors of the postmaster. We will display pictures of the victims as well as read the names out loud and we will have coffee in the Latino services center. The Orlando tragedy shook the LGBT and Latino communities to the core. The number for the community with the large LGBTQ Latino population we certainly felt the tragedy. What kind of actions to raise community awareness you were talking about For the last few months there have been a lot of movements around the country on the County as well. People are just trying to reject the X of witch hunting Eva call just a few days after the Orlando massacre there was intent to -- today they would be there with us and has not been the first time. Ever since we had an incredible number of collaborations as well. The idea is to create awareness in the community where no sort of hate or witch hunting or general accusations and it creates a sense of fear that will push back. Are participating to the numerous event around the County and creating solidarity. We want to come together and resist across the country and here locally both in the city of San Diego and North County to resist attempts to marginalize the community. We are immigrants and Latinos and the nation and lack and white and we are seniors youth and everyone in between. They will come together and fight for equality and justice. There are some that were positively impacted at the poles -- Pulse shootings. It created a new generation of young [ NULL ] grassroots leaders of color that you see it happening? We are dynamic and strong community can come from inspiration so I do see young people particularly coming together and leading. Attitudes are really changing and what would you say about the new leadership of color in the community. We have to do more to reach out to the diversity sometimes it is not find a place and a voice to be represented by the will always be trying with the diversity and we wanted to make sure that we understood that LGBT people are people of color and muscle people and different faiths and backgrounds. We are everywhere in different demographics as well. When you look at how things are changing do you still select the community is under attack. I feel I need more voices besides LGBT community that has the courage to stand up they are not taking the time and they're not reason the voices in solidarity when tragedy like that happens. They need to do a better Trump have a stronger progressive move into the North County. They need to find the representatives that can voice that. Earlier today President Trump issued a tweet about the post nightclub shooting. He said we will never forget the victims who lost their lives one year ago today in the horrific Pulse nightclub shooting. What is your reaction? I am glad that the president is acknowledging and honoring what was a horrific attack on the LGBT and LGBTQ community but that is not enough. We have an administration that has not publicly acknowledge this is pride month. We are seeing nationally our community under attack. It is certainly not enough but I am glad that the president has not acknowledged it. Big you so much for coming. Thank you.

Scores of people gathered outside the perimeter of the Pulse nightclub Monday to pay their respects while inside the site's fences, the names of the 49 victims of the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history were read out loud in a private service.

The early morning service was closed to the public and was held for survivors, victims' families, club employees and local officials. It overlapped the time a year ago that gunman Omar Mateen started shooting inside the nightclub on "Latin Night" a little after 2 a.m. on June 12, 2016.

"I realize that gathering here in this place, at this hour, is beyond difficult," Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said during the service. "But I also know that the strength you've shown over the past year will carry you through today and in the future."

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The private service was the start of what would be almost 24 hours of observations to remember the victims who died as well as the dozens of Pulse patrons who were wounded during the shooting. It would be followed by another midday service at the nightclub, an evening gathering in the heart of downtown Orlando and a final, music-filled late-night service at the nightclub.

Outside the perimeter at Pulse, where the fence has been decorated with vibrantly-colored banners, people laid flowers and lit candles early Monday. Supporters dressed as angels stood guard outside the club before the service.

Later in the day, church bells throughout the Orlando area were set to ring 49 times at noon.

Gov. Rick Scott ordered U.S. flags around Florida to be flown at half-staff and a giant rainbow flag would be unveiled at the Orange County government building.

Monday's services culminated several days of events aimed at turning the grim anniversary into something positive. A foot race was held over the weekend, and eight gay and lesbian students were awarded $4,900 toward their college studies by a local businessman. Local officials have declared the one-year mark as a day of "love and kindness," and they are encouraging residents to volunteer or perform acts of compassion.

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An exhibit of artwork collected from memorial sites set up around Orlando after the massacre will be shown at the Orange County History Center. The club's owner, Barbara Poma, is developing plans to build a memorial at the Pulse site.

Mateen pledged allegiance to the Islamic State during the attack and was eventually killed by police during a shootout after a three-hour standoff. His wife, Noor Salman, is facing charges of aiding and abetting and obstruction in federal court, and she has pleaded not guilty to helping her husband.