Reactions to the 2016 Orlando nightclub shooting

Commemoration of the Pulse nightclub at the 2016 Chicago Pride Parade

Vigil held in Minneapolis for victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting

The reactions to the 2016 Orlando nightclub shooting include the responses by political and religious leaders, media and the general public, both within the United States where the 2016 Orlando shooting took place, other nations and international organizations.

Public reactions to the shooting at Pulse LGBT nightclub on June 12, by Omar Mateen, included the domestic U.S. debate about constitutional rights and gun control; messages of condolences to the victims, their families, and friends; organized vigils, prayers and moments of silence or thoughts; and support for the LGBT community both in the U.S. and the rest of the world.

Non-governmental actions

Practical responses

On the day of the shooting, the Florida chapter of the Council on American–Islamic Relations and a physician at the Orlando Regional Medical Center made a call for blood donations.^[1]

Facebook activated its "Safety Check" feature in Orlando, its first use in the U.S., allowing users to mark themselves as "safe" to notify family and friends.^[2][3]

Equality Florida, the state's largest LGBT rights group, started a fundraising page to aid the victims and their families, raising $767,000 in the first nine hours.^[4][5][6] As of June 16, it raised more than $5.09 million, a record for GoFundMe.^[7][8][9] Orlando's mayor Buddy Dyer created another campaign, OneOrlando, supported by $1 million donations from The Walt Disney Company and NBCUniversal, which operate the nearby Walt Disney World Resort and Universal Orlando Resort.^[10][11][12]

On June 20, Broadway performers and composers recorded a cover of the 1965 hit single, "What the World Needs Now is Love" in tribute to the victims and survivors of the shootings. Proceeds from the single's iTunes sales benefit the LGBT Center of Central Florida. The performance included Broadway performers Idina Menzel, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Bernadette Peters, Audra McDonald, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Jessie Mueller, Nathan Lane, Whoopi Goldberg, Matthew Broderick, Sarah Jessica Parker, Renee Elise Goldsberry, Joel Grey, Billy Porter, and Kelli O'Hara as well as songwriters Sara Bareilles, Carole King, Seth Rudetsky and Gloria Estefan.^[13] On July 24 and 25, two groups of stars from the Broadway theatre, including the cast of the Tony Award-winning "Fun Home", each performed a night in the Walt Disney Theater in the Dr. Phillips Center to honor and raise money for the Pulse victims. Besides the victims and their families, the proceeds were also donated to Equality Florida, Help Center of Central Florida, GLBT Community Center of Central Florida, Zebra Coalition, and the Hope.^[14][15]

Singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge wrote a song, "Pulse (Love Will Always Win)", and pledged proceeds to an LGBT charity in honor of the Orlando victims.^[16]

Other charity songs released for the cause include "Change" by Christina Aguilera, "Hands" by various artists including Selena Gomez and Britney Spears, Broadway For Orlando, and a Jennifer Lopez and Lin-Manuel Miranda duet.^[17]

Popular reactions

#JeSuisOrlando^[18][19] (an allusion to Je Suis Charlie), #PrayForOrlando^[20] and #LoveIsLove^[21] were some of the hashtags used

Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson visits Pulse and the makeshift memorial outside of it on the three-month anniversary of the shooting

Many people on social media and elsewhere expressed their shock at the events and extended their condolences to those affected, including presidential candidates, members of Congress and other U.S. political figures, foreign leaders and various celebrities.^[22][23][24]

On June 13, singer Richard Marx posted an image to his Facebook page that read "We should demand more of our elected officials rather than their fucking thoughts and prayers".^[25] He wrote on Twitter: "every one of the 60 members of the Senate who voted against the Assault Weapons Ban in 2013 and defeated it has blood on their hands".^[26]

Commentators Steven Crowder,^[27] Mark Hemingway of the Weekly Standard,^[28] and Sebastian Gorka of Marine Corps University,^[29] assigned responsibility for the attack to political correctness^[27][28][29] and a tendency for liberals, especially politicians, to advocate increased gun control while shielding Islam and Muslims from criticism for political gain.^[27][28] Crowder has further argued that the root cause of the attack is Islamic fundamentalism rather than the guns laws of the United States.^[27]

Yeni Akit, a Turkish newspaper close to the current Turkish government, published a headline calling the victims "deviant" or "perverted",^[30] which foreign media outlets criticized.^[31]

Across the world, a number of individuals sympathized with the shooter.^{[32][33][34][35][36]} The Westboro Baptist Church organized a protest at the funeral of one of the victims, which was drowned out by a counter-protest.^[37][38]

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted his condolences to the families of the victims.^[39] The Washington Post reported that "The sympathetic tweets promoted a quick backlash from those who want India's Parliament to repeal a Colonial-era law that criminalizes homosexual acts".^[40]

American Muslims condemned the attacks.^[41] The Council on American–Islamic Relations called the attacks "monstrous" and urged Muslims to donate blood.^[1][42] The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community strongly condemned the attacks and held prayer vigils in mosques across the country.^[43] Its national representative, Salaam Bhatti, at the Orlando Mosque stated "through our prayers, and through donating our blood, we are hoping this will make a difference, in lives being saved after lives have been lost."^[44]

The Human Rights Campaign released a video in tribute to the victims of the shooting; in the video, 49 celebrities told the stories of the people killed there.^[45][46]

Other celebrity reactions included British pop singer Adele hoisting an LGBT flag in support of condemnation of the incident,^[47] American singer Katy Perry tweeting "I just can't believe this is the world we live in today"^[48] and singer Taylor Swift posting a picture of a letter on Instagram containing the names of all those killed. Singers Demi Lovato and Nick Jonas performed "Rise Up" along with Andra Day at Lovato and Jonas's Orlando concert date of the Future Now Tour.^[49]

American politicians and candidates

Obama's June 12 statement on the shooting

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, renewed his proposal for a temporary Muslim immigration ban and wrote on Twitter, "Appreciate the congrats for being right on radical Islamic terrorism, I don't want congrats, I want toughness & vigilance. We must be smart!"^[50] His response was condemned by Republicans and Democrats and some celebrities as inappropriate.^[50] Trump was also heavily criticized by President Barack Obama, calling Trump's words "dangerous".^[51] On June 15, 2016, Donald Trump had his highest disapproval rating since entering the presidential race in June 2015 with 70% of Americans viewing him negatively.

Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator John McCain, accused President Obama of being "directly responsible" for the Orlando nightclub shooting "because when he pulled everybody out of Iraq, al-Qaeda went to Syria, became ISIS, and ISIS is what it is today thanks to Barack Obama’s failures."^[52][53]

In protest at the failure of the house to implement gun laws, a number of Democrats walked out during a June 13 moment of silence in the United States House of Representatives ordered by Speaker Paul Ryan. When the moment ended, Democratic lawmakers shouted at Ryan, "where's the bill?"^[54] On June 15, 2016, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy and other Democrats filibustered for 14 hours and 50 minutes, promising to hold the Senate floor for action on gun control legislation. Murphy secured a promise from the Senate floor to hold votes "on a measure to assure that those on the terrorist watch list do not get guns and an amendment ... to expand background checks to gun shows and to internet sales".^[55][56]

Governmental responses

United States

•  United States: The White House released a statement sending its condolences to the victims. President Barack Obama directed the federal government to provide any assistance necessary to "pursue the investigation and support the community".^[57] In a speech, the President described the attack as an "act of hate" and "act of terror".^[58][59][60] The President also ordered U.S. flags flown at half-mast until sunset on June, 16.^[61] On June 13, Speaker Paul Ryan ordered a moment of silence in the United States House of Representatives to honor the victims of the shooting.^[54]
  •  Florida: Governor Rick Scott released a statement of support for all affected.^[62] Florida Senator Marco Rubio stated that he was "grieving for those who lost their lives and praying for those who were injured in this senseless act of hatred, violence and terror".^[63]
    •  Orlando, Florida: Mayor Buddy Dyer declared a state of emergency for the city and asked Governor Scott to request a state of emergency.^[64][65]
  •  New York City: Mayor Bill de Blasio ordered a deployment of New York Police Department officers to provide security at LGBT establishments in the wake of the attack.^[66] When political speeches were overtaking a vigil for the attack outside the Stonewall Inn, mourners heckled Mayor de Blasio, his wife, and NYPD Commissioner William J. Bratton in a flash point of discord with the politicization of the vigil and with the stepped-up police response, given the NYPD's history of harassment of New York City's LGBT community.^[67]

Supranational bodies

•  NATO: The Secretary General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg released a statement saying "I condemn the horrific terror attack in Orlando. I grieve with those who lost loved ones, LGBT community & USA."^[68]
•  United Nations: The United Nations Security Council condemned the attack for "targeting persons as a result of their sexual orientation."^[69]
• African Union: The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, released a statement saying that the organisation "reaffirms the AU's strong rejection of all acts of terrorism and violent extremism by whomever, wherever and for whatever purposes."^[70]
•  UNASUR: The Union of South American Nations condemned the killing and expressed condolences to the families of the victims.^[71][72]
• United Nations Security Council: The United Nations Security Council condemned the killing; this statement marked the first time the U.N. Security Council used language recognizing violence targeting the LGBT community.^[73]

Countries

Youth commemorate victims of the Orlando nightclub shooting in front of the U.S. Embassy in Baku, Azerbaijan on June 14, 2016

Flowers, candles, and messages in front of the United States Embassy in Berlin

People commemorate victims of the Orlando nightclub shooting in front of the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw, Poland on June 13, 2016

Vigil in Wellington, New Zealand, June 13, 2016

Vigil in Toronto

•  Afghanistan: President Ashraf Ghani condemned the shooting and said "nothing can justify killing of civilians."^[68]
•  Algeria: "It is with astonishment that I learned of the horrible massacre that left dozens dead and injured in the city of Orlando," wrote President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to Obama.^[74]
•  Andorra: Prime Minister Antoni Marti stated his solidarity with and sympathy to the people of America, especially to the victims and their families.^[75]
•  Argentina: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement condemning the attack and offered condolences to the people and government of the United States, as well as to the families of the victims.^[76]
•  Armenia: President Serzh Sargsyan expressed his condolences to U.S. President Barack Obama.^[77]
•  Australia: Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull condemned the "murderous hatred of gay people" and called the shootings "a vile attack on freedom...an attack on all of us."^[78] Vigils were held all over Australia in memorial.
•  Azerbaijan: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement condemning the attack and expressing condolences to the victims' families.^[79] Members of the local LGBT community gathered in front of the US embassy to protest against homophobia.^[80]
•  Bahrain: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain condemned the attacks.^[81]
•  Belgium: Prime Minister Charles Michel sent condolences via Twitter expressing his sadness and joining victims' families in grief.^[82]
•  Brazil: The suspended President Dilma Rousseff and the interim president, Michel Temer expressed solidarity with the families of the victims. Rousseff said "we are living in terrible moment, prejudice times and intolerance that reap human lives. We will together fight this barbarism. My feelings to the families of victims, to President @BarackObama and the American people".^[83] Temer expressed "Brazilian solidarity with the families victims of this attack".^[83]
•  Canada: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau offered his "condolences and prayers to the families and friends of those lost" and wished a "full recovery to all those injured." He added that "We stand in solidarity" with the LGBT community and the people of Orlando.^[68] Markham, Ontario hosted the vigil for Orlando shooting victims on June 14, 2016.^[84][85]
•  Chile: The Foreign Ministry of Chile offered "its condolences to the people of the United States and the families of the victims of the brutal attack in Orlando."^[68]
•  China: President Xi Jinping expressed deep sympathy and sincere condolences to the people of the United States and expressed grief to the victims of the terror attack.^[86]
•  Colombia: President Juan Santos condemned the shooting and expressed solidarity with the victims.^[68]
•  Croatia: The Croatian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs tweeted: "We fully condemn the horrible shooting in Orlando. Our condolences and thoughts go to the victims families and friends."^[87]
•  Cuba: President Raul Castro stated: "The Cuban people and government express their condolences and solidarity with the families of the victims".^[88]
•  Czech Republic: President Miloš Zeman sent his condolences to U.S. President Barack Obama.^[89]
•  Denmark: Prime Minister Lars Rasmussen said he was horrified by the shooting, that his thoughts were with the victims and called for all to "unite in the fight for equal rights."^[68]
•  Djibouti: President Ismail Omar Guelleh sent a letter of condolence to President Obama condemning the barbaric attack and expressing his sympathy with the American people.^[90]
•  Dominican Republic: César Dargam, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, signed the condolence book at the U.S. embassy in Santo Domingo and reaffirmed support for the fight against terrorism.^[91]
•  Egypt: Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmed Abu Zaid strongly condemned the attacks and offered the Egyptian government's and people's condolences to the American people and government. He said that Egypt and America stood "united in this moment of grief".^[92]
•  Finland: Prime Minister Juha Sipilä expressed his condolences on Twitter.^[93]
•  France: President François Hollande condemned the shooting, while expressing "full support to the American people."^[68]
•  Germany: Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed complete shock and offered her condolences to the families of the victims saying, "Our heart is heavy." Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier stated, "I condemn such senseless violence in the strongest possible terms. Be assured that Germany stands close to provide any possible support you may request."^[94]
•  Greece: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement condemning the attack and expressed condolences to the families.^[95]
•  Guatemala: President Jimmy Morales condemned the shooting.
•  Hungary: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade condemned the shooting and expressed its condolences to the families of the victims. The ministry emphasized "the importance of the fight against ISIS to prevent further tragedies".^[96]
•  India: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was shocked and that his thoughts and prayers were with the injured and the families of the victims.^[68]
•  Iraq: The Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces released a statement through its Twitter account condemning the attacks.^[97]
•  Iran: A spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that "The Islamic Republic of Iran deplores deaths of civilians in cold-blood terrorism and is determined to seriously thwart menaces of terrorism as an ominous phenomenon."^[98]
•  Ireland: Taoiseach Enda Kenny offered his condolences in a letter to President Obama, and said that "Ireland stands with the US in this time of immeasurable grief."^[68] President Michael D. Higgins offered his condolences in an official statement, saying that "Our thoughts are with the people of Florida and the community in Orlando and Orange County at this difficult time. The loss of innocent life on such a horrendous scale is truly shocking and challenges us all."^[99] On June 14, the government ordered that flags be flown at half mast across the country.^[100]
•  Israel: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was saddened and that Israelis "feel your pain as if it were our own" on account of the victims.^[68]
•  Italy: Prime Minister Matteo Renzi tweeted: "Solidarity and compassion from the Italian government for the heinous massacre of Orlando in Florida. Our hearts are with our American brothers."^[68]
•  Jamaica: In a statement, Prime Minister Andrew Holness extended condolences to the people of the United States and added that "[t]he world must finally deal with terrorism and gun violence, which continues to scar our quest for peace and brotherhood among peoples. The people of the United States of America are constantly in our prayers as we have been in yours in our times of tragedy and pain. We stand together with you as brothers and sisters committed to a better world for our peoples."^[101]
•  Japan: In a message to President Obama, Prime Minister Shinzō Abe denounced the attack and said that "Japan stands with the United States and the people of the United States at this difficult time."^[102]
•  Luxembourg: The only openly gay world leader, Prime Minister Xavier Bettel, tweeted: "My thoughts go to the victims of the senseless attack in #Orlando and their families. A sad day for the #LGBT-Community."^[103] An official statement of condolence was issued later by his office, condemning the "senseless act of terror" and wishing a "a speedy recovery to the many wounded".^[104]

Candles and messages of support at the end place of the vigil, the Love Monument in St. Julians, Malta.

•  Malta: A vigil named Walk towards love,^[105] was held in St. Julian's, Malta on June 17.^[106] Helena Dalli, the minister of civil liberties, passed her condolences to the families and friends to the victims and survivors.^[107]
•  Mexico: President Enrique Peña Nieto said that Mexico deeply regretted the violence of the shooting, and expressed solidarity with the families of the victims and the people of the United States.^[68]
•  Netherlands: The Foreign Minister of the Netherlands, Bert Koenders, expressed his condolences to United States Secretary of State, John Kerry.^[68]
•  Norway: Prime Minister Erna Solberg said she was horrified and called the shooting "senseless brutality." She also said that her thoughts were with the victims and their loved ones.^[68]
•  Pakistan: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif released a statement saying, "No innocent man, woman or child should ever feel afraid of being shot or killed for being who they are in a progressive and democratic society. This is against every principle of pluralism, tolerance and humanity that we have been striving for. This does not represent the will of a vast majority of Muslims."^[68]
•  Poland: Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski released a statement expressing his condolences.^[108]
•  Portugal: President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa sent a message of condolence to the government saying, "On behalf of the Portuguese people and on my own, I want to convey you our national solidarity in the aftermath of such dramatic event, and ask you to accept my heartfelt condolences."^[109]
•  Russia: President Vladimir Putin expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and to Barack Obama.^[110] Russian authorities arrested a gay couple outside the U.S. Embassy in Moscow after they were reported breaching the Russian LGBT propaganda law.^[111] Along with some African and Muslim countries, Russia resisted the UN's statement against "targeting persons as a result of their sexual orientation".^[112]
•  Saudi Arabia: Saudi Ambassador to the United States Abdullah Al-Saud released a statement saying, "The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia condemns in the strongest terms the attack on innocent people in Orlando, Florida, and sends its deepest condolences to the families and friends of the victims and to the people of the United States.”^[113] LGBT rights are not recognized by the government of Saudi Arabia. Homosexuality is punishable with the death penalty.^[114]
•  South Africa: President Jacob Zuma sent a message of condolence to the government and people of the United States, and condemned attacks on the LGBTQI community.^[115]
•  South Korea: President Park Geun-hye sent a message of condolence to the victims and the families, stating that she also wished for a quick recovery of those injured in the attack.^[116]
•  Spain: The Spanish king Felipe VI,^[117] as well as the four candidates to the presidency, Mariano Rajoy, Pedro Sánchez, Pablo Iglesias and Albert Rivera, expressed their condolences.^[118] In several cities, as in Madrid, Barcelona, Cádiz, Málaga, Granada, Gijón, Mérida, or Tenerife, there were popular gatherings of up to 200 people to mourn and remember the deceased.^[117]
•  Sri Lanka: President Maithripala Sirisena tweeted, "My heartfelt condolences to loved ones of the victims of the Orlando shooting. We must make the world a safer place for all communities".^[119]
•  Sweden: Prime Minister Stefan Löfven sent condolences to President Obama and the people of the United States while also noting the LGBT victims and the need to combat hatred, violence, and terror as well as to stand up for human rights.^[120]
•   Switzerland: Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter stated: “Switzerland condemns in the strongest terms the terrorist acts that struck Orlando yesterday, and extends its sincere condolences to the families and relatives of the victims of this tragedy.”.^[121]
•  Thailand: The nation's King Bhumibol Adulyadej expressed sympathy and condolences to President Obama and the bereaved families "for their irreparable loss caused by this shocking incident." Mourners placed flowers and held a candle light vigil outside of the United States embassy in Bangkok.
•  Turkey: In a press release, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Turkey condemned the terrorist attack perpetrated in Orlando city and conveyed condolences to the people of the US.^[122]
•  Turkmenistan: In a statement, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedow said that he was "Strongly opposing any manifestations of terrorism and extremism, Turkmenistan fully supports the efforts of the international community in combating this scourge and its elimination".^[123]
•  UAE: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the UAE condemned the shooting.^[124] In the United Arab Emirates, homosexuality is punishable by death.^[114]
•  Ukraine: President Petro Poroshenko expressed his condolences to the families of those killed and injured.^[125]
•  United Kingdom: Prime Minister David Cameron said he was horrified and expressed his thoughts with the victims and their families.^[68] Vigils were held in memorial for those who passed, a dozen vigils were held in different parts of the United Kingdom. Queen Elizabeth II said "Prince Philip and I have been shocked by the events in Orlando. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those who have been affected."^[126] Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, tweeted "I stand with the City of Orlando against hate and bigotry. My thoughts are with all the victims of this horrific attack #lovewins".^[127]
•   Vatican: The Holy See Press Office said in a statement: "The terrible massacre that has taken place in Orlando, with its dreadfully high number of innocent victims, has caused in Pope Francis, and in all of us, the deepest feelings of horror and condemnation, of pain and turmoil before this new manifestation of homicidal folly and senseless hatred".^[128]

ISIL-related responses

•  ISIL: Online Dawah Operations, a Telegram channel believed to be run by ISIL sympathizers, gloated of the attack soon after, while ISIL's channel remained silent about it.^[129] Some news outlets reported that ISIL claimed responsibility for the shooting.^[130][131] These reports were based on the Amaq News Agency, an online presence reportedly affiliated with ISIL,^[132] writing, "Source to Amaq Agency: The attack that targeted a nightclub for homosexuals in Orlando, Florida and that left more than 100 dead or wounded was carried out by an Islamic State fighter".^[133] A June 13 broadcast from the ISIL radio station al-Bayan said that Mateen was a "soldier of the caliphate" but did not indicate that the group had any foreknowledge of the shooting. Yoram Schweitzer of the Israeli Institute for National Security Studies posited that Mateen associated the attack with ISIL to add notoriety, and said it was very unlikely that ISIL had known of him before the attack.^[134]

See also

• 2016 United States House of Representatives sit-in

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External links

• Media related to Monuments and memorials to the 2016 Orlando nightclub shooting at Wikimedia Commons