In Wake of Bar Shooting, Equality Illinois Says “Pride Always Trumps Hate”
Vigils and victims fund follow Orlando tragedy at gay bar
CHICAGO (June 12, 2016)–Equality Illinois CEO Brian C. Johnson today issued the following statement and also asked Illinoisans to join two vigils tonight and consider giving to a fund to help raise fund of victims and families of the Orlando massacre:
Our hearts ache with the news of the tragedy in Orlando this morning. This morning, 50 mothers and fathers got the call that their child had been murdered in the largest mass shooting in our country’s history. And they were murdered simply for being at a gay club.
No parent should get the phone call saying their child was murdered by a gunman. It shouldn’t happen in Sandy Hook; it shouldn’t happen in Charleston; it shouldn’t happen here in Chicago; and it certainly shouldn’t have happened in Orlando this morning.
This was an act of terror. It was an attack on LGBT Americans during Pride Month, the month we celebrate our strength, vibrancy and power as a community. But our history has taught us that Pride always trumps Hate.
We are working to reach out to our community here across the state as we work to respond collectively to this tragedy. In the meantime, below is a list of ways we currently know people can respond to this crisis:
There are two vigils planned in Chicago tonight:
7 pm – Halsted and Roscoe in Lakeview
7:45 pm – Balmoral and Clark in Andersonville
Equality Florida has communicated out information on a GoFund Me account to help raise funds for victims and their families (www.gofundme.com/PulseVictimsFund)