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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (June 15, 2016)
QR code for Portland Observer Online ‘City of Roses’ Volume XLV Number 24 Movies, Concerts and More The Greatest Laid to Rest A summer free for all at Portland Parks Ali honored as fearless man of principle See Metro, page 9 See story, page 5 www.portlandobserver.com Wednesday • June 15, 2016 Established in 1970 Committed to Cultural Diversity photo by b enjamin K erensa Hundreds of people gather in front of Embers on Sunday, a historic gay nightclub in the Pearl District off of Northwest Couch and Broadway, to show solidarity with Orlando, just hours after the worst shooting massacre in U.S. history left 50 dead at Orlando’s Pulse LGBT nightclub. Portland’s Pride celebration is kicking off this week from a place of condolence and concern of safety. Horror, Anger and Healing Pride week dampened by gay club massacre by C ervante p ope t he p ortland o bserver Early Sunday morning a lone gunman entered a gay nightclub Pulse in Orlando, Fla. during a Latino themed dance night, ending the lives of 50 people and injuring 53 in what’s considered the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history. The club posted this note at 2:09 a.m. on their Facebook page, a quick cautionary warning to horriic bloodshed that was to come: “Everyone get out of Pulse and keep running,” The suspected gunman, identiied as Omar Mateen, a U.S. citizen born to immigrant Afghanistan parents, was shot dead by police after a gunight and the taking of hos- tages. Mateen swore allegiance to ISIS in a 911 call made before the shootings and had been investigated by the FBI for possible ties to terrorists in the past, oficials said. While family, friends and investigators in Florida are steadily working on identifying victims and holding me- morials, LGBTQ communities in other cities, including Portland, are expressing deep support for Orlando and try- ing to igure out how to keep gay pride festivities annually held each June as safe as possible for participants. Portland’s Pride celebration is kicking off this week from a place of condolence and concern of safety. Vigils were held in solidarity for the Orlando victims on Sunday including one in front of Embers, a historic gay nightclub in the Pearl District off of Northwest Couch and Broadway. Mayor Charlie Hales was one of the speakers at the cer- C ontinued on p age 4