Sarasota shows solidarity for Orlando shooting victims

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.”