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Battlefords residents support Orlando shooting victims with vigil

Jun 17, 2016 | 11:46 AM

Dozens of locals came together in North Battleford to stand in solidarity with the victims of this past week’s mass shooting in an Orlando LGBTQ nightclub.

Organizer Kay-Lynne Collier said she was happy with the Central Park vigil’s turnout.

“This community really needed a place to come together and just show support for Orlando and be able to help each other through this tough time and to mourn the loss of all the victims and show support for the families,” she said.

Some in the group held signs with slogans like “love knows no gender,” “love wins,” and “Islamophobia is not the answer.” Collier read out the names of the shooting victims, inviting others to join in by reading a name. When this concluded, the group paused for a moment of silence.

“Now more than ever, we need to come together as a community and be supports for each other,” she said to the group. “I know that we will stand strong against homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia and any Islamophobia and racism that may occur because of this attack on the LGBTQ community. I know that we will fight to make change in the future. Love is stronger than hate.”

The group walked a lap around the block gaining support from passersby.

Rikki Kadler said the shooting affected her personally.  

“It’s just so horrible to think that in 2016 people are still being murdered for who they want to be or for who they love,” she said.

Kadler was also at the first meeting of the Battlefords and Area Gender and Sexuality Alliance, which took place just before the vigil. She said it felt liberating to finally have an LGBTQ group in the Battlefords.

Collier, who founded the group, said roughly 10 people participated in the first meeting. She was very encouraged with the first gathering’s discussions. She hoped to see even more faces at the meeting next week, Thursday, June 23 at 7 p.m. at Crandleberry’s.

On June 12, Omar Mateen opened fire at Pure, a gay nightclub in Orlando, killing 49 people and injuring scores of others. Mateen was shot and killed by police.

 

sarah.rae@jpbg.ca

@sarahjeanrae