Orlando purchases Pulse nightclub for memorial construction.
OAN’s Elizabeth Volberding
11:55 AM – Wednesday, October 25, 2023
The city of Orlando in Florida is set to purchase the iconic “Pulse” nightclub property to create a memorial honoring the lives lost in the tragic mass shooting. It has been seven years since the devastating incident claimed the lives of 49 people.
On Monday, the city of Orlando unanimously voted to acquire the nightclub property as a solemn tribute to the victims of the tragic shooting that occurred on June 12th, 2016.
The property will be purchased for $2 million, as confirmed by Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer (D-Fla.). The decision was made in collaboration with the families of the victims, ensuring their input in the creation of the memorial site.
Pulse nightclub, a beloved LGBTQ+ establishment, holds a significant place in the heart of Orlando, Florida.
Seven years ago, this venue witnessed the second deadliest mass shooting by a lone gunman in the history of the United States.
Carlos Guillermo Smith, a former state representative of East Orlando, expressed the importance of the memorial, stating:
“People were taken from this community, mostly LGBTQ and Latino people from our community,” said Smith. “Having that sacred ground be a space of quiet reflection of remembrance for those 49 Angels that were taken is something that is a top priority for those families and for those survivors as well as an entire community that’s been impacted by this tragedy.”
The perpetrator behind the massacre was Omar Mateen. He unleashed terror within the walls of the Pulse nightclub, claiming the lives of 49 innocent individuals and injuring 53 others. Mateen was subsequently shot and killed by a SWAT team member on the same night.
In 2013, federal officials conducted two interviews with Mateen after his colleagues reported his discussions about radical Islamic ideologies and his own homophobia. The following year, the FBI reexamined him due to his connections with an American who trained as a suicide bomber in the Middle East, as reported by NBC news.
The Pulse nightclub tragedy in 2016 marked the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history. However, the following year, the record was surpassed when 58 people lost their lives and over 850 were injured in a country music concert in Las Vegas.
Since the massacre, the families of the 49 victims have tirelessly advocated for a public memorial at the site of this tragic event, which holds immense significance in the nation’s history.
However, some survivors who were present at the nightclub that fateful night argue that prioritizing the investigation into the details of the massacre should be the primary focus.
Maritza Gomez, a survivor of the tragedy, shared her perspective on the investigation:
“I lived that night, but it’s a constant sacrifice to keep moving everyday,” Gomez told the press. “I don’t think that Pulse should be diminished. I think that an investigation should be taken care of first.”
Another survivor, Orlando Torres, expressed his gratitude towards the authorities for their handling of the investigation, stating, “I’m glad that they looked after us and put this to rest and at ease.”
Questions still remain regarding the motive behind the killer’s actions and whether the shooting was a hate crime targeting the LGBTQ+ community or an act of terrorism. Currently, the FBI classifies the shooting as a “terrorist attack”.
The onePulse Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to funding the construction of the Pulse memorial and museum, as well as supporting educational programs and scholarships, released a statement prior to the vote, commending the city authorities for their expected approval of the $2 million deal.
“We are thankful to the City of Orlando for ensuring that the National Pulse Memorial will be located at the Pulse nightclub site, which was always the hope of families of the 49 victims and the Pulse-impacted community,” the statement said. “We look forward to being a part of the discussion with the City of Orlando as this moves forward.”
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What role did the families of the victims play in the decision to create a memorial site?
OAN’s Elizabeth Volberding reported on Wednesday, October 25, 2023, that the city of Orlando in Florida is planning to purchase the Pulse nightclub property to create a memorial honoring the lives lost in the tragic mass shooting that took place seven years ago. The shooting, which occurred on June 12th, 2016, resulted in the loss of 49 innocent lives.
The unanimous decision to acquire the nightclub property was made by the city of Orlando on Monday, with a purchase price of $2 million. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, a Democrat from Florida, confirmed the acquisition and emphasized that the families of the victims were consulted in the process to ensure their input in the creation of the memorial site.
Pulse nightclub has held a significant place within the LGBTQ+ community in Orlando, Florida. It became the site of the second deadliest mass shooting in the history of the United States. Carlos Guillermo Smith, a former state representative of East Orlando, stressed the importance of the memorial, stating that it would serve as a space of quiet reflection and remembrance for the community that was impacted by the tragedy.
The shooter responsible for the massacre was Omar Mateen, who entered the Pulse nightclub and unleashed terror, taking the lives of 49 innocent individuals and injuring 53 others. Mateen was subsequently shot and killed by a SWAT team member on the same night. Prior to the shooting, Mateen had been investigated twice by federal officials due to reports of his discussions about radical Islamic ideologies and his own homophobia. In 2016, it was revealed that Mateen had connections with an American who trained as a suicide bomber in the Middle East.
The Pulse nightclub tragedy in 2016 held the title of the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history until it was surpassed the following year by the Las Vegas shooting, where 58 people
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