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Vigil For Orlando Victims To Be Held At City Hall Tonight [Updated]
Los Angeles City Hall (Photo by Greg Lilly Photosvia the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr)
In the wake of Sunday's horrific Orlando massacre, the band played on at yesterday's LA PRIDE Parade, and impromptu vigils sprung up across Southern California and around the country.
The Los Angeles LGBT Center, which is the world's largest provider of programs and services for LGBT people, announced Monday that they would holding a vigil and rally for the victims of the Orlando shooting and their families Monday night at Los Angeles City Hall. The event will begin at 7 p.m. on the south steps of City Hall on West 1st Street, between Spring and Main, according to the event Facebook page.
Thank you @LALGBTCenter for your support. #LAPRIDE #Orlando #pride2016 pic.twitter.com/9MilSxGCpw
— Nik (@nikroybal) June 12, 2016
"Of course we are grieving and angry and we need to express that. We also need to make sure we don’t allow this hateful incident to silence us,” Lorri L. Jean, chief executive of the LGBT Center, told the L.A. Times yesterday.
[h/t L.A. Observed]
Update [5:15 p.m.]
KPCC reports that Mayor Eric Garcetti will be at the vigil.
According to the event's Facebook page, speakers will include Los Angeles LGBT Center CEO Lorri L. Jean, Oscar De La O (president and CEO of Latino community organization Bienestar), Vallerie Wagner (COO of Aids Project LA Health & Wellness and former head of the Black AIDS Institute), Los Angeles Transgender Advisory Council member Justine Gonzales, APAIT advocate and counselor Maria Roman and Latino Equality Alliance Co-Founder & Advisory Board Chair Ari Gutiérrez Arámbula. Rabbi Denise Eger of Congregation Kol Ami, a LGBT-oriented synagogue in West Hollywood, will lead a prayer.
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The speakers will be joined by the Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles, Los Angeles City Councilmember Mitch O'Farrell, West Hollywood City Councilmember John J. Duran, The Wall Las Memorias founder Richard Zaldivar and John Perez, Speaker Emeritus of the California State Assembly.
"Most importantly, we want to show respect for the victims of the Orlando massacre," Dave Garcia, director of policy for the L.A. LGBT Center, told KPCC. "We will be reading all of their names tonight."
Some (paid) parking will be available at nearby lots, but organizers urge attendees to carpool or take public transportation.
Members of the Latino Equality Alliance will also be gathering at Mariachi Plaza in Boyle Heights at 6 p.m. to march together to City Hall:
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