How people are remembering the Pulse nightclub shooting, four years later

by Anagha Srikanth | June 12, 2020 | Jun. 12, 2020

a man writes the names of victims of the pulse nightclub shooting in chalk on the sidewalk in front of the nightclub

Story at a glance

Four years ago, a shooter opened fire on hundreds of people inside the Pulse nightclub in Orlando.
On June 12, many remember the 49 people killed and 53 others who were injured.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, many memorial ceremonies are being held virtually.

Four years after 49 people were killed and 53 others were wounded in a mass shooting inside Pulse, much has changed, but many still remember. The gay nightclub has since reopened, and then closed due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The annual remembrance will be held virtually at 7 p.m. in both English and Spanish. And in lieu of gathering in person, many gathered online under a hashtag shared on the Pulse Orlando Facebook page, “We Will Not Let Hate Win.” The area around the club is closed to the public, according to a local news outlet, but survivors, family members of victims and first responders were allowed to visit.

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At noon, First United Methodist’s church in downtown Orlando and others around the world rang their bells 49 times, one for each victim of the deadliest terrorist attack in the United States since the Sept. 11 attacks. When it happened, it was also the deadliest mass shooting by a single gunman in American history, but was replaced by the Las Vegas shooting a year later. The debate around gun control and reform remains polarized.

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The ceremony was shared virtually on the One Orlando Alliance Facebook page, which listed 49 acts of love and kindness in remembrance. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis ordered flags to fly at half staff and a spire in front of Orlando’s city hall was lit up in the colors of the rainbow, representing the LGBTQ+ community.

The spire in front of @citybeautiful city hall lit up in rainbow colors #WeRemember the 49 lives lost @pulseorlando 4 years ago today. @fox35orlando pic.twitter.com/G8fEGnTtWa

— Holly Bristow (@hollybnews) June 12, 2020