Wellesley institutions respond to Orlando massacre in words and deeds

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Prayer flags across the facade of the Central St. side of Wellesley Village Church. Photo credit: Village Church — Prayer flags across the facade of the Central St. side of Wellesley Village Church. The church asks the community to gather on Sunday, June 19 at 11am to stand in witness as the church bell rings 50 times. Photo by Karen Haberly

In light of the June 12 massacre at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida in which 50 people died and 53 people were injured, many grievously, Wellesley institutions have stepped forward to offer support for those affected by the deadliest mass shooting in United States history.

Wellesley Village Church, located at 2 Central St., asks the community to join together on Sunday, June 19 at 11am to honor the victims of the shooting. The Church will stand in witness by ringing the church bell 50 times in recognition of the tragedy.

Other institutions in Wellesley also have issued public responses to the events in Florida. The World of Wellesley earlier this week asked the community to “…come together to show unity in our humanity and to stand in support of our LGBT neighbors, all Muslim neighbors, and all of our first responders” at a candlelight peace vigil that took place on the Town Hall Green, while St. Andrew’s Episcopal church also held a vigil.

Prayer vigil on Wellesley Town Hall Green, organized by World of Wellesley

The Unitarian Universalists on their Facebook page offered “Thoughts and prayers with all those affected by the largest mass shooting in US history…at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fl…may the people of Orlando know that our thoughts are with them,” while interim Mass Bay Community College president Lynn Hunter addressed the college community on the school’s website in a letter which read in part:

“Our hearts go out to the victims, their families and loved ones in Orlando, Florida, following the tragic events… We stand in solidarity with the people of Orlando, with our LGBTQ friends and family, and join communities both at home and abroad to express our support for all who are grieving over this senseless and tragic loss of lives…As we learned that two of the victims of this vicious attack have ties to Massachusetts, we are reminded of the interconnectedness we share as a people. As an academic community, we are also called to uphold our educational and civic values, including civil discourse, diversity and respect…let us keep each other close and support one another.”

The assailant, 29-year-old American Omar Mateen, entered the nightclub at around 2am on June 12 and started shooting with a Sig Sauer MCX assault rifle at the crowd of approximately 320. About 100 officers from the Orlando Police Department and the Orange County Sheriff”s office were initially dispatched to the scene. At around 5am, Mateen was shot and killed in a gunfight with SWAT officers who entered the building with an armored vehicle that they crashed through a wall.

Pulse Nightclub on their website says, “We grieve with the victims, their families, and our Pulse family, and we thank you all for the outpouring of support and love that is helping us through this tragic time.”

The nightclub’s staff, traumatized and currently out of work, is in need of assistance. If you would like to help out, Pulse has set up an Employee Recovery Fund to provide assistance to its workers who will continue to have monetary needs during what the club is calling its time of recovery. You can donate via secure Paypal account by clicking here, and the club emphasized that all money will go directly to its employees to assist with their daily needs while they are out of work.

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