Nothing can undo the damage inflicted upon the hundreds of lives instantly shattered by the trigger of a gun, but one man’s hate cannot withstand the outpouring of support offered around the world.
As families, friends and the global LGBTIQ community mourns after Sunday’s murderous act in central Florida, people from all walks of life have responded with sorrow and comfort for the victims. Everywhere people have taken a collective stance against the violence which took place early Sunday morning at gay nightclub.
Although nothing can bring back the dozens who lost their lives to a gunman’s bullets, images around the world of people of different faiths, race, and gender are standing together. Video showing hundreds of people in Orlando lining up to donate blood is just one example of this.
For Education International (EI), which only one week ago held a symposium on human rights education in Riga, Latvia, the shootings only reinforce its efforts to create understanding and acceptance of unique differences within society.
“All of us at EI are shocked and saddened by the horrific events in Orlando,” said EI General Secretary Fred van Leeuwen. “This is a stark reminder of how the values we cherish in our open societies remain fragile, vulnerable to attack by those who oppose the celebration of different views, faiths and lifestyles. There is a lot of work to be done to get people on course, on the right side of history.”
Photo:
Title: Aftermath Of Orlando Nightclub Shooting – Tribute
Caption: Brett Morian, from Daytona Beach, hugs an attendee during the candlelight vigil at Ember in Orlando, Fla., on Sunday, June 12, 2016. Photo by Joshua Lim/Orlando Sentinel/TNS/ABACAPRESS.COM
Credit: Reporters / Abaca