London Vigil For Orlando Victims Draws Thousands

lundi 13 juin 2016

In a massive vigil in London on Monday honoring the victims of the Orlando, Florida, shooting, thousands of mourners reminded the world that the pain such attacks inflict on the LGBT community knows no international borders.

Londoners gathered on Old Compton Street in Soho, the heart of the city's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender scene, to pay tribute to the 49 killed and 53 injured in a shooting at the gay nightclub Pulse in Orlando early Sunday morning. The attack, carried out by a single gunman, is the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history.

But in the face of that hate, members of the LGBT community have vowed not to let one man's actions silence them and are carrying on with Pride month celebrations worldwide.

In London, Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, Education Minister Nicky Morgan, London Mayor Sadiq Khan, Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson and Britain’s youngest member of Parliament, Mhairi Black, joined mourners in two straight minutes of silence, HuffPost UK reported.

See photos below of the touching gathering:

Dylan Martinez/Reuters
Men embrace during a minute of silence in memory of the victims of the mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando.
Dylan Martinez/Reuters
Mourners embrace at St. Anne's Church in Soho.
Jack Taylor/Getty Images
People light candles for the victims on Old Compton Street.
Dylan Martinez/Reuters
A man places a doll beside candles, flowers and photos of victims of the gay nightclub mass shooting in Orlando, at St Anne's Church in the Soho district of London.
Tolga Akmen/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
Mourners gather outside the Admiral Duncan pub on Old Compton Street.
Dylan Martinez/Reuters
Mourners embrace during a vigil in memory of the victims of the gay nightclub mass shooting in Orlando. They gathered at St Anne's Church in the Soho district of London.
Tolga Akmen/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
Mourners champion love over hate outside the Admiral Duncan pub on Old Compton Street.
Jack Taylor/Getty Images
People hold their fists in the air during a vigil for the victims of the Orlando nightclub shooting outside the Admiral Duncan pub on Old Compton Street.
Dylan Martinez / Reuters
People pause during a minute of silence in memory of the victims.
Tolga Akmen/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
LGBT members and allies march outside the Admiral Duncan pub on Old Compton Street.
Dylan Martinez/Reuters
A woman kneels among graffiti in Soho honoring the victims of the Orlando shooting.
Jack Taylor/Getty Images
A woman holds a placard during a vigil for the victims of the Orlando nightclub shooting outside the Admiral Duncan pub on Old Compton Street.
Justin Tallis/AFP/Getty Images
On Old Compton Street, a man holds a sign calling for religious unity against all LGBT hate crimes.
Dylan Martinez/Reuters
People pause during a minute of silence in memory of the victims of the shooting.
Jack Taylor/Getty Images
Labour politician Chris Bryant, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, deputy Labour leader Tom Watson and shadow Chancellor John McDonnell attend a vigil for the victims of the Orlando nightclub shooting outside the Admiral Duncan pub on Old Compton Street.
Jack Taylor/Getty Images
People look out of their window next to a rainbow-colored American flag hanging above the Admiral Duncan pub.
Jack Taylor/Getty Images
People hold placards during a vigil for the victims of the Orlando nightclub shooting outside the Admiral Duncan pub.