In sorrow and strength, Philadelphians gather to honor Orlando victims [video]

Early on Sunday, a shooter open fired at Pulse, a popular LGBTQ nightclub in Orlando, Florida, killing and injuring dozens of people, many of whom identify as queer, trans, and Latino/Latina.

On Monday at 6:30 p.m., a vigil in Philadelphia honored victims of the massacre, now called a targeted hate crime and the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history.

In response to the tragedy, and in defiance of the intolerance that allowed for it to happen, a diverse array of community members gathered at the northeast corner of City Hall on Monday evening. Different faiths, ethnicities, and identities came together in a display of gentle anger, grief, and solidarity.

Attendees of the vigil included LGBTQ people and allies, Mayor Jim Kenney, friends and families of the fallen, and other community members calling for accountability, action, and support.

Among many of the victims remembered was Philadelphia resident and recent West Catholic High School graduate Akyra Murray. Those present witnessed a raw and public display of shared mourning and collective vulnerability.

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Video by Dave Angilella; text by Afaq Mahmoud.