Staying with the story
The Springfield News Sun has reported on the attacks in Orlando since the news first broke on June 12, including stories talking to local lawmakers about gun laws and community organizations about their reactions.
Nearly 100 people gathered in downtown Springfield over the weekend for a local Islamic organization’s walk to promote peace after the Orlando Pulse night club shooting.
Organizers of the event also collected more than $10,000 from the community to benefit the victims of the massacre, which left 50 people dead, including the gunman, and injured dozens more.
Islamic and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender organizations in Springfield took a stand against the violence that occurred by holding rallies.
More than 100 people gathered at City Hall Plaza in downtown Springfield for the an interfaith peace march organized by the Miami Valley Islamic Association in Springfield, co-organizer Samina Ahmed said.
Ralliers carried signs with messages like “Islam means peace,” “United we stand,” and “Terrorism has no religion.”
The Islamic association wanted to organize the rally to bring people of all races and religions together, said organizer Dr. Akber Mohammad, and to show solidarity against hatred and violence.
“The sanctity of human life is the most important thing,” Mohammad said. “People need to know that we’re not going to stand by this. We’re going to fight back.”
Omar Mateen, 27, of Port St. Lucie, Fla., opened fire inside Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, in the early-morning hours of June 12.
The gunman wielded an assault-type rifle and a handgun inside the crowded nightclub. Mateen died in a gunfight with SWAT officers, police said. In 9-1-1 calls during the shooting, Mateen allegedly swore his alliance to ISIS.
The Muslim community across the nation and locally was struck by the nonsense of the shooting, Mohammad said.
The Islamic community in Springfield was one of the first to reach out to the local LGBTQ community after the shooting and offer support, said Rick Incorvati, a spokesman for the group Equality Springfield.
“They have gone above and beyond to show their support of the local LGBT community in a time of grieving,” Incorvati said.
The interfaith march was was the first organized by the MVIA and Mohammad said they were surprised and happy by the turnout.
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