WINNIPEG — A Winnipeg community held a candlelight vigil Monday night in a show of solidarity with the victims of the Orlando, Florida mass shooting.
Pride Winnipeg held a vigil outside of the Manitoba Legislative Building Monday at 8:30 p.m.
“Pride Winnipeg will be holding a vigil… as an act of solidarity and tribute to the Orlando LGBTTQ community. We invite all Manitobans who believe in equality to join us,” said a post on Facebook.
“We often see ourselves as a global community,” said Jonathan Niemczak, president of Pride Winnipeg. He condemned the attacks and said LGBT communities across the world are in mourning.
“Regardless of what area of the world it is, it affects us all. This definitely hits home.”
At least fifty people were killed in the shooting at a gay nightclub called Pulse Nightclub in Orlando at 2 a.m. Sunday.
READ MORE: Orlando shooting: 50 people killed, 53 injured at gay nightclub in Florida
The gunman, identified as Omar S. Mateen, exchanged gunfire with police before entering the club and taking hostages.
READ MORE: Orlando shooting: Bodies removed from nightclub as investigation continues
Mateen was later killed when the SWAT team entered to rescue the hostages.
A candlelight vigil also took place last night at the Rainbow Resource Centre in Osborne Village on Scott Street Sunday evening.
WATCH: Winnipeggers hold vigil for Orlando shooting victims
Leaders both provincial and federal expressed their condolences and shock at the fatal attacks.
Within Manitoba, there are also safety concerns being expressed about the upcoming Steinbach Pride Parade in July; the first in the town’s history. Niemczak said there has been opposition from town council and is expecting opposition during the parade.
“The organizers have been working with the local RCMP detachment,” Niemczak said.
“This is, I think, only going to heighten that fear that folks are going to have.”
As of Sunday, there are no plans to withdraw or change plans for Steinbach’s Pride Parade.
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