LA Pride Was Nearly Canceled In The Wake Of The Shooting In Orlando

Across the country, people are stunned today in wake of the mass shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, that killed 49 people and injured 53 more. This shooting marks the deadliest shooting in US history.

The violence perpetrated against the LGBT community is a shocking reminder we are all so far from being done in the fight for gay rights, and much, much more needs to be done to protect America's most marginalized communities.

What makes this shooting all the more appalling is the fact the US government willfully granted Omar Mateen the right to own guns even though he was on an FBI watch list, according to NBC News.

Early Sunday morning, on the same day as the Orlando shooting, police arrested a man in Santa Monica who, according to the Los Angeles Times, had weapons and ammunition in his car. This man was reportedly on his way to the LA Pride parade, an event that draws hundreds of thousands of people.

In the wake of the tragic Orlando shooting and subverted attack, LA Pride was nearly canceled. Sources told the LA Times the parade will now continue as scheduled with heavy security in addition to undercover police officers on the ground.

We all cannot allow fear to dictate our lives. We cannot let racist, homophobic, Islamophobic politicians use fear as a tool to paralyze us and prevent real change.

President Barack Obama said in his statement on the shooting,

The massacre is a further reminder of how easy it is for someone to get their hands on a weapon… We have to decide if that's the kind of country we want to be. To actively do nothing is a decision as well...What is clear is that he was a person filled with hatred... We will not give in to fear or turn against each other.

People reacted on Twitter as well, standing with the LGBT community.

Love is Love. #Pride pic.twitter.com/1aGXOqrxhS — alliesaurousREX (@alliesaurousREX) June 12, 2016

For everyone attending LA Pride today, stay safe. Take care of one another. And remember, in the end, love always triumphs over hate.

Citations: Orlando nightclub shooting live updates: Attacker who killed 50 may have been inspired by Islamic State, official says (Los Angeles Times), Pete Williams: Gunman Was On FBI Watch List (NBC News), President Obama on the Tragic Shooting in Orlando (The White House)