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"To not come would be letting them win, as far as I'm concerned."Security measures are obviously going to be heightened," Balof said. "There is a risk, an inherent risk that growing up gay and in the gay community, I think on some personal level I'm used to that, that living my life is a risk," Curly said. Photo by Reuters/David McNewīrian Curley, 42, was holding a placard that read "Praying for Orlando." The law student, who lives in Ontario, California, said it was his first pride rally and that he was concerned about security after the Florida massacre. Photo by Reuters/David McNewīrandon Joyce carries a sign of remembrance for mass shooting victims in Orlando, at the 46th annual Los Angeles Gay Pride Parade in West Hollywood, California, U.S. Kristen Jaeger holds a sign of remembrance for mass shooting victims in Orlando, at the 46th annual Los Angeles Gay Pride Parade in West Hollywood, California, U.S. That feels much better than sitting and crying." "They stop, take a photo, have a moment of silence. "People seem very connected to it," Steele said. Local poet Steven Reigns, 40, said he and a friend, Jackie Steele, put up the memorial to show the people of Orlando that they have the support of a larger community. Overall, the mood was festive, with rock music blaring from speakers, shirtless men in jeans and cowboy hats dancing on a Flaming Saddles Saloon float, and rainbow-colored balloons and fake palm trees swaying in a light wind under cloudy skies.Īlong the parade route, some people stopped and placed Mardi Gras beads and flowers at a sidewalk memorial made up of gay pride flags, white candles and signs on a metal fence that said "50 Lights for 50 Beautiful Souls" and "Keep Kissing."
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Some of those who marched in West Hollywood carried handmade signs emblazoned with slogans of sympathy for the victims on the other side of the country: "My Heart Goes Out to Orlando," "Love Not Hate," and "May Their Memories Be a Blessing." Los Angeles County Sheriffs deputies watch over the 46th annual Los Angeles Gay PrideParade in West Hollywood, California, following the early morning attacks on a gay night club in Orlando, Florida U.S. Santa Monica Police Chief Jacqueline Seabrooks also said there was no known connection between Howell's arrest and the shooting rampage early Sunday morning at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, where 50 people were killed and more than 50 others were wounded. But Garcetti said the arrest appeared unrelated to Sunday's Florida attack. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, speaking at the opening of the LA Pride Festival in West Hollywood, a small municipality adjacent to Los Angeles, said separately that Howell had told police he was on his way to the parade there. Police in Santa Monica, a seaside community west of Los Angeles, said its officers were called to investigate a report of suspicious activity after Howell was seen repeatedly knocking on a resident's door and window. We do not have any additional information related to what his intentions were," Rodriguez said.įBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said the suspect was 20 years of age. "Beyond that he did not make any additional statement saying that he was going to do anything further than that. "The suspect did make an initial statement to the effect that he was going to go to the pridefestival," the department's Lieutenant Saul Rodriguez told reporters.
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He also had a five-gallon (19-liter) bucket with chemicals that could be used to make an improvised explosive device, the police department said in a statement. Officers responding to a call from a member of the public found James Howell of Indiana sitting in a car with Indiana plates alongside three assault rifles and high capacity magazines, Santa Monica Police Department said. Suspected Orlando shooter was an armed guard of Afghanistan origin.Orlando suspect purchased guns within past week.Orlando reacts to massacre with outpouring of grief, support.Terrorism: 50 dead in the worst shooting in American history.