ORLANDO — Thousands of people across the country came together Monday to honor the men and women who were killed at the hands of a gunman inside an Orlando nightclub early Sunday morning.%
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Late Monday, the city of Orlando released all 49 names of the people killed at the Pulse nightclub.
Investigators said around 2 a.m., just after last call was announced in the bar, Omar Mateen went into the club and opened fire.
It has become the worst mass shooting in the history of the U.S. and the deadliest attack on U.S. soil since the 9/11 attacks.
For continuing coverage on this developing story from our sister station in Orlando, WFTV,follow them on Twitter and LIKE them on Facebook.
As people across the country grieve for the loss of the 49 victims, thousands gathered in downtown Orlando Monday night to share hugs, signs and memories of the loved ones lost in the massacre.
“I’m just thankful that we all gathered together,” said Wilma Riel Rosado, who lost the father of her 5-year-old child in the shooting.
She wore a shirt with Xavier Serrano Rosado’s face on it.
“He was an amazing, friend, dad, partner, everything. He was everything for me and his child,” Rosado told Channel 2’s Matt Johnson.
Before the crowd of thousands, leaders of the LGBT community and the Muslim community shared a stage, united in their grief.
“We want to bring end to this mass killing that's happening,” Rosado said. “Love will overcome in Orlando, Florida because that's who this community is.”
Kira Valdez, 10, said she stayed up late until 1 a.m. making a sign filled with pictures of love to bring to the massive vigil.
“I drew pictures of things that matter on this planet because the guns don’t matter and hate needs to stop,” Valdez told Johnson.
For those who lost loved ones, the sight of thousands of people in support came at a time when they needed it the most.
“It makes us be more calm and stronger,” Rosado said.
ATLANTA REMEMBERS
The metro Atlanta area is showing its support for the victims of the Orlando nightclub shooting with a growing memorial in midtown Atlanta.
A man told Channel 2’s Richard Elliot was important to bring his daughter to see the memorial to show her how people can come together, even in the shadow of something horrible.%
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Elliot spotted Aaron Fletcher walking up to the memorial near the intersection of 10th Street and Piedmont Avenue with his boyfriend Sean and 6-year-old daughter Kaelyn.
They wanted to pay their respects and light candles at the memorial. Fletcher said it was important that he bring his daughter along.
“Just to be accepting of everybody who is either gay, straight, lesbian or bisexual, all walks of life. Just to let her see it's OK to love everybody, you know, the way that they are,” Aaron Fletcher said.
Sean Powell agreed and said it broke his heart to see the massacre at the Orlando nightclub.
“It's just a tragedy what happened, to those innocent people that were just out enjoying their night out,” Powell said. %
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Elliot watched as dozens of people stopped by, some on their lunch break, just to pay their respects at the memorial.
The candles are in the TEN Atlanta restaurant parking lot, but the restaurant owners are in no hurry to take it down.
Elliot asked 6-year-old Kaelyn why she thought it was important for her to be there with her dad and his boyfriend.
She said to show respect for the victims' families.
“Because those people have families who really love them, and I’m sad for those families because they lost their children and people from their families,” Kaelyn said.
VIGILS ACROSS THE COUNTRY
In New York City, thousands crowded the streets around the Stonewall Inn in Manhattan where large-scale gay rights activism got its start in 1969.
Under banners heralding the upcoming Pride Week event, people held hands and hugged. Some waved rainbow flags and others carried signs showing support for Orlando as they listened to a slew of elected officials, including New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio.
Spectators watched from fire escapes and windows of nearby apartment buildings as chants of "love beats hate" rang from the crowd.
At the end of the vigil, attendees held candles and some sobbed as the names of the victims were recited. Each name was met with the Spanish cry of "Presente!" from the crowd.
Thomas Dougherty, 23, of Manhattan, said he came to the rally to feel united and connected.
He said he had friends in Orlando who ordinarily could have been at Pulse and he spent a frantic Sunday tracking them down to make sure they were all OK.
"Seeing everyone here makes me feel at home, makes me feel safe," he said.
In Baltimore, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake urged people at a vigil in the city Monday to stand together against hatred.
"There are times like this when words seem insufficient because of the measure of hate it would take to have to do what they did to innocent people," she said. "And then, I think the only way to combat that hate is not a ministry of words, but of presence. Just being here is speaking volumes about who we are as Baltimoreans. We stand together," she said. "We are hoping this ministry reaches our brothers and sisters in Orlando so they know that they are not alone."
As the sun set over Baltimore, the crowd swelled well beyond the confines of a grassy lot where the vigil was held.
People dressed in bright colors clutching rainbow flags and signs of support spilled into the intersection, choking the streets and the sidewalk.
(The Associated Press contributed to this article)
Cox Media Group
