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Photos, Videos: Mayor Garcetti And L.A. Pride Honor Those Killed In Orlando

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During today's PRIDE parade and celebration in West Hollywood today, Mayor Eric Garcetti addressed the shooting at gay nightclub in Orlando that killed 50 and wounded 53 people. At the parade, a moment of silence was observed for those murdered this morning. Garcetti told the crowd, "We are here to march, to celebrate, and to mourn."

LA Mayor @ericgarcetti at @LAPRIDE "We are out here to march, to celebrate and to mourn." pic.twitter.com/xXoqRbkztg

— L.A. Daily News (@ladailynews) June 12, 2016

In a statement, posted on Facebook, Garcetti elaborated:

Our hearts go out to the victims and survivors in Orlando, an attack not just on our LGBT brothers and sisters, but on all of us. As we mourn the dead and tend to the injured and bereaved, we redouble our commitment to the essence of America--diversity and inclusion make our nation strong. Once again, a shocking act of violence forces us to reflect on the price of allowing easy access to fearsome weaponry. We must distinguish between the freedom to bear arms and the irresponsible policies that open the way, again and again, for our enemies to turn their hatred into explosions of deadly mass violence.

LAPD is coordinating with local and federal partners, and will be increasing patrols, as well as visible and plainclothes presence at critical locations. We are in communication with our partners at the LA Sheriff's Department and across law enforcement and will provide all support needed to ensure the safety and security of everyone attending today's events. And, as always everyone should remember, 'If You See Something, Say Something.'

In Los Angeles, a man was arrested in Santa Monica and found with explosives, ammunition, and guns in his car, and told police he was headed for the PRIDE celebration in West Hollywood. The L.A. Times reported that the parade was almost called off due to possible threats to security, but officials decided to go forward with the festivities, albeit with heightened security.
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As LA PRIDE tweeted above, #ThePrideMustGoOn, and it did:

Police and security presence was amped up in the aftermath of the Orlando shooting and due to the man apprehended in Santa Monica. Here's a weird shot of sheriff's deputies packed into an truck in front of PUMP, a PRIDE hotspot.

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