Local News

Diverse crowd mourns Orlando shooting victims at Raleigh vigil

An interfaith vigil at Pullen Memorial Baptist Church Monday evening honored the 49 people killed in an Orlando nightclub shooting.

Posted Updated

RALEIGH, N.C. — An interfaith vigil at Pullen Memorial Baptist Church Monday evening honored the 49 people killed in an Orlando nightclub shooting.
During the service, the name of each victim was read and a silence in between gave attendees a moment to think about who they may have been.

During the hour long vigil, speakers from a variety of religious, ethnic and political backgrounds shared their thoughts and feelings about the shooting:

Reverend Nancy Petty, Pullen Memorial Baptist Church

“We are here to affirm that love always overcomes hate. We don’t understand it, it’s hard to acknowledge, but we are one humanity and God loves us all and we are here to be together in that love.”

___

Imam Abdullah Antepli

“In the face of this kind of evil and tragedy, there are things we can do and things we cannot do. We can’t undo yesterday, but we can reshape tomorrow, together. We can stand in solidarity and not allow this nation to be divided and defeated by the message of hate.”

___

Raleigh Mayor Nancy McFarlane

“As a mayor, my heart breaks for Orlando. I know, as a community, all of our hearts break for Orlando. As a mom, those are my kids.”

___

Farris Barakat, brother of Deah Barakat, a Muslim student killed in a 2015 shooting in Chapel Hill

“I am not sure anyone here knows any of the victims, but I am not sure that matters. Let’s keep them in our prayers.”

 Credits 

Copyright 2024 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.