- April 24, 2024
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The rainbow flag flies high representing the LGBT community at Five Points Park.
Signs of support were throughout the crowd.
The rainbow flag flies high representing the LGBT community at Five Points Park.
Photos to remember Eddie Sotomayor who was killed early Sunday morning at Pulse nightclub in Orlando.
Fernando Vega and Jennifer Lockwood of the Community AIDS Network help distribute candles.
Sarasota City Commissioner Suzanne Atwell gets assistance lighting her candle prior to the vigil.
Paulina Tondreau helps light candles.
Jennifer Real sings John Lennon's "Imagine" to start the vigil.
Harvey Milk Festival President Shannon Fortner addresses the crowd Monday evening.
Long-time friend of Eddie Sotomayor, Jonathan Hall spoke on behalf of his family during the vigil.
Valerie Fisher of Prism Youth Initiative in Bradenton.
Jennifer Real sings "Imagine" by John Lennon at a candlelight vigil at Five Points Park in Sarasota to honor of the victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting. The shooting killed 50 people including Edward Manuel Sotomayer of Sarasota, Florida.
During a speech by Jonathan Hall he encouraged members in the crowd to hug. Douglas Thurston and Miranda Steele embrace one another.
Susan DuPreue and Sandy Levesque embrace during the vigil.
Dennis Stover raises his candle during the vigil.
Sabina Murman shows her support during the vigil.
Thousands of supporters packed the steps at Selby Public Library and Five Points Park for the candlelight vigil.
Becky Good
Sarasota Pride Chairman Cindy Barnes and James Godwin help hold up the rainbow flag during the vigil.
Thousands held lit candles during the vigil to honor the victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando.
Candles were lit on behalf of the victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting at a vigil in Five Points Park in Sarasota Florida June 13, 2016.
Niki Best holds up a peace sign while Jennifer Real sings "Imagine" by John Lennon. Thousands gathered in Five Points Park to honor the victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting.
Scott Blackman holds a claps his statements following Jonathan Hall's speach on behalf of his friend, Edward Manuel Sotomayer, June 13, 2016 in Sarasota, Florida. "He was who I wanted to be. He was my hero and my mentor," Hall said of Sotomayer.
Rainbow ribbons were passed out at a vigil in Five Points Park in downtown Sarasota, Florida June 13, 2016. The vigil commemorated the victims of the Pulse Nightclub shooting.
A top hat for Eddie Sotomayor who made the accessory his trademark and was called "Top Hat Eddie" by friends.
Sarasota Chief of Police Bernadette DiPino was present to make sure members of the community felt safe in attending the vigil.
A resident from the Plaza at Five Points watches the vigil from above.
More than 130 miles separate Sarasota from Orlando in central Florida. Distance didn’t matter Monday evening when about 1,500 people gathered to pay tribute to the victims of the shooting at Pulse nightclub in a vigil at Five Points Park in downtown Sarasota.
A crowd of people in attendance for the vigil that began at the foot of the steps to Selby Public Library and extended deep into Five Points Park at the intersection of First Street, Central Avenue and Pineapple Avenue.
Residents stood shoulder to shoulder and many hand in hand to shine light in the shadow of the attack in Orlando.
Early Sunday morning a gunman opened fire on patrons at Pulse nightclub, a popular bar for members in the LGBT community in Orlando. A total of 49 victims were killed and another 53 injured making it the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history. Sarasota resident Edward “Eddie” Sotomayor Jr. was the first victim identified by the city of Orlando following the attack.
Leaders with local LGBT organizations responded quickly with the event “Hate Will Not Win: Candlelight Vigil in SRQ for Orlando” organized on Facebook for Monday evening at Five Points Park.
In fewer than 24 hours the community organizers including ALSO Youth, Prism Youth Initiative and the Harvey Milk Festival organized the event to bring the community together.
Among the speakers was Jonathan Hall, a longtime friend of Sotomayor, who spoke on behalf of the family.
“Forty nine of our loved ones are gone today due to lack of love and compassion,” Hall said. “Edward Manuel Sotomayor, Jr. was the complete opposite. Eddie embodied love and compassion.”
Sotomayor, 34, was the national brand manager for ALandCHUCK.Travel a gay travel agency. In his speech to supporters, Hall mentioned Sotomayor’s love for ‘free hugs’ and encouraged the crowd to embrace one another.
“This is heart-warming and it feels right,” Hall said. “He would feel proud and I’m sure he would give that crooked-ish smile of his. I think we should remember Eddie for his endless compassion for humanity.”
The overwhelming message of the evening was one of solidarity and support. A few times during the vigil, the crowd broke out in song, singing “We Shall Overcome” and “Somewhere Over the Rainbow."
Sarasota Chief of Police Bernadette DiPino mingled with members of the crowd prior to the start of the vigil to assure them that they would be safe.
“This is about love. Love beats hate every time,” DiPino said. “We’re here because we want to make people feel safe. We’re going to stand up and protect our community.”
