Orlando. Another marker in a seemingly interminable list of places that bears the wounds and memories of hate violence and incomprehensible tragedy: Aurora. Oak Creek. Sandy Hook. Boston. San Bernadino. Charleston (a year ago on June 17th). Wounds that reopen, personally and publicly, every time another city’s name is added to the list. Wounds that remind us of the inability of lawmakers to put into practice the solutions and policies that would end this cycle of injury and death, which should never become mundane, expected, or normalized.
The contrasts, contradictions, and connections that converged in Orlando are overwhelming.
Race and gender identity; immigration status and sexual orientation. Latinx and Muslim. Homophobia and Islamophobia. Gun and hate violence. Gay Pride and Ramadan. The war on terror and the war on gay rights. The revelations of the shooter’s motivations and affiliations.
As the days go on, the questions that arise after every act of gun and hate violence will continue to stay in our midst. But the complexity of what happened in Orlando demands that our questions and efforts are even more nuanced and responsive.
In response to many of these questions and others, the words of those who identify as Latinx, Muslim and LGBTQ have provided solace, inspiration and guidance. To those who are writing, speaking out, and mobilizing in the midst of grief and pain, and despite worries about your own personal safety: your words and actions are radical acts of resistance that help all of us stand up to fear and backlash. We are with you.
Oscar A Aracena-Montero, 26 years old
Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala, 33 years old
Antonio Davon Brown, 29 years old
Darryl Roman Burt II, 29 years old
Angel L. Candelario-Padro, 28 years old
Juan Chevez-Martinez, 25 years old
Luis Daniel Conde, 39 years old
Cory James Connell, 21 years old
Tevin Eugene Crosby, 25 years old
Deonka Deidra Drayton, 32 years old
Simon Adrian Carrillo Fernandez, 31 years old
Leroy Valentin Fernandez, 25 years old
Mercedez Marisol Flores, 26 years old
Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz, 22 years old
Juan Ramon Guerrero, 22 years old
Paul Terrell Henry, 41 years old
Frank Hernandez, 27 years old
Miguel Angel Honorato, 30 years old
Javier Jorge-Reyes, 40 years old
Jason Benjamin Josaphat, 19 years old
Eddie Jamoldroy Justice, 30 years old
Anthony Luis Laureanodisla, 25 years old
Christopher Andrew Leinonen, 32 years old
Alejandro Barrios Martinez, 21 years old
Brenda Lee Marquez McCool, 49 years old
Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez, 25 years old
Kimberly Morris, 37 years old
Akyra Monet Murray, 18 years old
Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, 20 years old
Geraldo A. Ortiz-Jimenez, 25 years old
Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, 36 years old
Joel Rayon Paniagua, 32 years old
Jean Carlos Mendez Perez, 35 years old
Enrique L. Rios, Jr., 25 years old
Jean C. Nives Rodriguez, 27 years old
Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado, 35 years old
Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz, 24 years old
Yilmary Rodriguez Solivan, 24 years old
Edward Sotomayor Jr., 34 years old
Shane Evan Tomlinson, 33 years old
Martin Benitez Torres, 33 years old
Jonathan Antonio Camuy Vega, 24 years old
Juan P. Rivera Velazquez, 37 years old
Luis S. Vielma, 22 years old
Franky Jimmy Dejesus Velazquez, 50 years old
Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon, 37 years old
Jerald Arthur Wright, 31 years old