Birmingham Remembers Victims of Orlando Nightclub Shooting
Hundreds gathered in downtown Birmingham yesterday evening to remember victims of Sunday’s mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, that killed 49 people. A diverse group of faith leaders led those assembled in Linn Park in prayer.
Rachel Osier Lindley,WBHM
Birmingham City Hall, Monday, June 13.
“Our responses are what teach us how to live,” says Jennifer Sanders, a minister in Birmingham. She says the gathering was about healing, grieving and connection. “When we can respond by becoming a better community, and a stronger community, and better people, we, in turn, honor the lives that were sacrificed.”
The City of Birmingham marked the tragedy with a rainbow flag draping the entrance to city hall.
Sunday’s shooting came on the last day of Birmingham’s Pride celebration, in which gays and lesbians and their allies come together to honor the LGBTQ community.
“It touched me somewhere deep inside,” says University of Montevallo student Bethany Jones. “Having only come out only six years ago and just now going to my first pride…I feel like it’s one of my duties as part of this community to be here.”
Those gathered said it was a time to mourn the dead, but also celebrate love and acceptance with dancing and music.
“I hope to god it brings us closer,” says Gina Mallisham, LGBTQ outreach coordinator at Sidewalk Film Festival. “I’m really tired of everybody being split. Even within the LGBTQ community we’re split. And we need to come together. We need to bring the glue that keeps the country from falling apart.”
Monday night’s gathering ended with a candlelight vigil and a reading of the names of the dead, followed by a march around the park.
Rachel Osier Lindley,WBHM
As the candlelight vigil ends, those gathered began a silent march around Linn Park.
Trump names former Florida AG Pam Bondi as his new pick for U.S. attorney general
After former Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew from consideration, President-elect Donald Trump named Pam Bondi, a former attorney general of Florida, as his next pick for U.S. attorney general.
Police report gives details, timeline of the sexual assault claim against Pete Hegseth
The woman who accused then-Fox News host of sexual assault in 2017 said that she "remembered saying 'no' a lot," according to a police report. Hegseth is President-elect Donald Trump's choice for Secretary of Defense.
Alabama Black Belt’s sewer crisis a tougher fix for residents in manufactured homes
Poor sanitation has long plagued residents in Alabama’s Black Belt. For people with manufactured houses, finding a solution has been more challenging.
In Birmingham, Black men’s groups work to save young men from the cycle of gun violence
As the city inches closer to its homicide record, community members are trying to address a sense of fatalism and lack of opportunity felt by some young men.
What is the ICC and can it really arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu?
The ICC also issued warrants for Yoav Gallant, former Israeli defense minister, and Hamas leader Muhammad Deif. But it doesn't have an enforcement mechanism and relies on states to make the arrests.
Former Brazilian president indicted over alleged coup plot
Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro and several others have been charged with attempting to overthrow incoming government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in 2022.
