Orlando Solidarity Rally Tuesday Night

A broad group of Atlanta organizations is gathering Tuesday night, June 14, at 7 at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights downtown in a vigil for the victims of the Orlando nightclub massacre and a rally against violence.

SOJOURN sent the AJT the group’s statement, which follows.

We are devastated to learn of the terrorist attack at Pulse nightclub in Orlando. As organizations and leaders in Atlanta, we keep the victims of this tragedy along with their loved ones and their community in our hearts and in our prayers.

This tragedy marks the largest mass shooting to date in U.S. history. Pulse, a gay dance club, was hosting Latin Night, which means that the overwhelming number of victims were people of color and members of the LGBT community. This tragedy is a sobering reminder that although large legal advancements have been made for people in the LGBT community, the hatred and desire to cause harm to our community is alive, well and empowered.

There is much work ahead to wage peace through relationship building, dialogue and acts of solidarity in order to prevent this terrible harm from happening again. This attack is part of a much larger pattern of violence in our country toward people who are perceived as different.

The ability of citizens to procure high-powered assault rifles, like the AR-15, increases the magnitude of violence that can be perpetrated by a single person. It is also fueled in part by the heated and hateful political rhetoric we continue to hear in public discourse. We condemn this rhetoric and the violence that follows it and call for a new, respectful dialogue in our country that honors the diversity among us and fosters peaceful interactions.

These attacks continue to happen to people of color, religious, racial, sexual and gender minorities, and many others. They happen in our schools, houses of worship, places of recreation, places where we receive services and now in our nightlife.

We do not live in silos. We are all deeply connected through the various intersections of race, gender, ability, sexuality, religion and background, and we call for unity against violence and solidarity in love.

We must take care of each other in our pain, with a commitment not to return violence with violence either in word or deed. Instead, we must advance ideas of inclusion, affirmation and understanding.

This massacre occurred at a time in our country where Islamophobia is an increasing threat. We urge people to refrain from using this tragedy to further bigotry or hatred toward the Muslim community; let it ignite in us the commitment to work against hatred and violence directed at LGBTQ people and all people.

Out of this spirit of intersectionality and solidarity, we invite you to join us on Tuesday, June 14, at 7 p.m. at the Center for Civil and Human Rights for a vigil in memory of those who were killed in Orlando and a call to action to prevent this terrible violence from happening again in the future.

AID Atlanta

Anti-Defamation League

Atlanta Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce

Atlanta Pride Committee

Center for Civil and Human Rights LGBT Institute

Compassionate Atlanta board of directors

Congregation Bet Haverim

Counter Narrative Project

Fellowship of Reconciliation

Gentle Spirit Christian Church

Georgia Equality

Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials

Georgia Safe Schools Coalition

The Health Initiative

Human Rights Campaign — Atlanta Steering Committee

Imagine Hope

In the Life Atlanta

Islamic Speakers Bureau of Atlanta

Latino LinQ

Lambda Legal

Lost-n-Found Youth

Muslims for Progressive Values at Atlanta Unity Mosque

NAESM

Phillip Rush Center

Positive Impact Health Center

PRISM Health

ProGeorgia

St. Mark United Methodist Church

SisterLove

Second Sundays With Sister Harriet

SOJOURN

THRIVE SS

ZAMI National Organization of Black Lesbians on Aging