Events to honor Pulse nightclub shooting massacre victims

News4Jax will provide live coverage of 1-year anniversary

ORLANDO, Fla. – Monday marks the one-year anniversary of the horrific Pulse nightclub shooting massacre in Orlando.

Gunman Omar Mateen opened fire in the early-morning hours inside the gay nightclub, killing 49 people and injuring 58 others. Mateen called 911 during the shooting and swore his allegiance to ISIS. He was finally shot and killed by officers after a three-hour police standoff.

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The hot temperatures didn’t keep large crowds of people from coming to Pulse nightclub, on the eve of the anniversary.

"This fills my spirit a lot more," Pulse shooting survivor Passion Suarez told News4Jax.

The love being felt at the club is healing for those returning to the place that changed their lives forever.
"I couldn’t believe it at first but it really does show all the love from everybody," survivor Demi Hazzard said outside the nightclub.

But being in the same place where Suarez was trapped with a gunman last year, is still difficult.

"It’s still there, it doesn’t go away,” Suarez said. “You try and mask it and with love to try to erase it a little bit.  But it doesn’t go away.”

Suarez told News4Jax that she returns to the large vigil outside Pulse weekly, to remember the 49 people murdered in a senseless act.

"Every Sunday after church," Suarez said. "It helps me. It fills me up with love a lot more than watching it on the news."

Hazzard, who hid in a bathroom stall when Omar Mateen opened fire, said coming back to Pulse isn't easy.

"I was in the hip hop room. It was actually my first time coming to the club, a gay club, period, actually,” Hazzard said. “I wouldn’t have thought it would happen because of how much love is inside. It’s kind of like déjà vu, like it never happened. Like it’s just about to happen again." 

Along with media agencies from around the world, thousands are expected to join Hazzard, Suarez and other survivors for all the events planned for Monday to honor and remember the people who lost their lives.

"I can call my nephew and talk to him. I can go down to Orlando and visit him. Those people can't, and my sympathy goes out to them. They lost, they lost it all," said Leroy King, the uncle of Pulse shooting survivor Rodney Sumter of Jacksonville.

Gil Hughes lives a few blocks down from Pulse and has been wheeling past it pretty regularly since the shooting.

Hughes has watched the block change from a crime scene into one of the biggest memorials in the area, remembering the dozens of victims who united the community like never before.

“It’s been pretty bizarre. It’s -- I don’t really have words for it. I wish it had never happened. Ridiculous that people gotta’ hate like that,” Hughes said. “There’s always people here building the memorial, leaving flowers. Every time I come through here there’s people here mourning the loss.”

It wasn’t only locals who showed up on the eve of the shooting’s anniversary. Tamara Williams came to the area to be with her cousin, who was trapped inside the club when Mateen opened fire.

“She (her cousin) contacted us and told us that she had been through the ordeal, and we just came out to support her today and tomorrow,” Williams said.

On the anniversary, three public events are planned throughout the day, and one private event for survivors, families of victims and invited guests.

“Getting here has been a heartbreaking journey and Monday will be a difficult day for so many of us. For Central Florida, this is just the start of a healing process since that tragic day on June 12, 2016,” said Barbara Poma, owner of Pulse nightclub. “Our hope is that we find comfort by being together and remembering the 49 angels who were taken from us as well as show gratitude to the brave men and women who responded and saved so many lives.”

Tarik Minor, Scott Johnson and Ashley Harding will all be in Orlando covering the events for News4Jax. Live coverage begins at 6 p.m. Sunday. Several of the public events, listed below, will be streamed live on News4Jax.com.

SPECIAL SECTION: Pulse One Year Later

1 a.m. private event

At 1 a.m. the private event for survivors, families of victims and invited guests will be held inside Pulse nightclub. The rundown of the event includes Barbara Poma giving an opening statement, a prayer led by pastor Israel, the reading of the names of those who lost their lives. Mayor Buddy Dyer and Mayor Teresa Jacob are also set to speak to the private assembly of guests.

11 a.m. Ceremony of Remembrance

The first of two public Ceremony of Remembrance events will take place inside Pulse, 1912 S Orange Ave., at 11 a.m. This public event will include prayer by Israel, music by the Orlando Gay Chorus, remarks by both Dyer and Jacobs, and the reading of the names of those killed in the shooting. There will also be a presentation of first responders. Those attending will be allowed inside the nightclub starting at 10 a.m.

7 p.m. "Orlando Love - Remembering Our Angels"

The "Orlando Love -- Remembering Our Angels" event will be held at the Lake Eola Amphitheater, 2 E Washington Street, at 7 p.m. The event will honor the lives of those taken one year ago. The uplifting event is being produced with the assistance of Orlando City Commissioner Patty Sheehan’s office.

“What happened at Pulse was the darkest day in our city’s history, and we continue to grieve for the victims and fight for those who are still suffering,” Sheehan said. “This June 12, our entire LGBTQ community and our allies need to stand together and continue to show that we are a strong, united city that responds with love.”

Performances throughout the event will feature Orlando-based groups and artists well-known to the amphitheater stage, including Puerto Rican Grammy award-winning pop singer Olga Tanon and Central Florida native Sisaundra Lewis, a semifinalist in season 6 of NBC's "The Voice." Lewis will sing and dedicate her song "Applause" to those who were inside Pulse June 12, 2016.

There are a number of other performers, including Orlando Firefighters Pipes and Drums and the Pipes and Drums of the Orange County Sheriff's Office. 

Those who attend can also view artwork related to Pulse on display at the Washington Square Plaza section of Lake Eola Park.

Also, the Orlando Angel Force -- a group comprising 49 individuals bearing angel wings -- will have a presence throughout the event. The Angel Force is organized by the GLBT Center of Central Florida and has been a symbol of hope and compassion during numerous events and gatherings throughout Orlando.

10 p.m. Ceremony of Remembrance

The second Ceremony of Remembrance will be held at 10 p.m. inside Pulse. This public event will include prayer by pastor Debrieta Taylor, performances of dance and song, and the reading of the names of all the victims. Those attending will be allowed inside the nightclub starting at 9:30 p.m.


About the Authors:

Scott is a multi-Emmy Award Winning Anchor and Reporter, who also hosts the “Going Ringside With The Local Station” Podcast. Scott has been a journalist for 25 years, covering stories including six presidential elections, multiple space shuttle launches and dozens of high-profile murder trials.