South Orange and Maplewood Unite to Remember Orlando

Date: June 15, 2016

By Katelyn Fatzler

SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. (June 15, 2016) - Residents of South Orange and Maplewood gathered at the Sloan Street Gazebo on Tuesday, June 14 for a vigil commemorating those killed in the Orlando shooting.

"Today, we are still recovering from the shock and horror of Sunday morning," Ashraf Latif, Chairman and President of the National Islamic Association and Community Center in Newark said. "Fifty human beings lost their lives in an act of absolute senseless violence."

Sloan Street was blocked of by the South Orange Police Department for the event. A large banner was displayed with the words "South Orange and Maplewood stand with Orlando," which attendees were actively signing with personal messages.

Community members were invited to light candles during the ceremony. Many residents held signs with quotes such as "stop the hate," and "we are Orlando."

All ages were present in the crowd, with a large amount holding both candles and rainbow flags in their hands. Children also handed out rainbow ribbon-pins before the vigil began.

"It is heartening to see all these folks from our towns, and towns around, have come together to speak with one voice and say enough," Mayor Victor DeLuca said. "We must send the message that we stand with our brothers and sisters in Orlando, and across this land, and across the globe."

Representatives from Seton Hall University's Student Government Association recited the names of the victims of the Orlando shooting that took place on Sunday, June 12 at approximately 2 a.m.

Seton Hall students, Teagan Sebba, Chelsea Wilson, Amanda Moreria, Christina Simon, and Michelle Panread 49 names as the community stood in silence. The ages of the deceased ranged from 18 to 50 years old.

"In the shadow of the massacre in Orlando, let us not gloss over the fact that vast majority of victimswere members of the LGBTQ community and the vast majority of the victims were people of color," Reverend Brad Motta of Maplewood's Morrow Church said.

The vigil, held to support the victims and survivors of the shooting, was coordinated by South Orange Village President Sheena Collum and Mayor DeLuca in conjunction with North Jersey Pride.

The complete photo gallery of the event is available here.

Posted in: WSOU