On the 5 year anniversary of the terrorist attack that targeted the gay community at the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Florida, leaving 49 innocent people dead, Gov. Ron DeSantis declared that June 12 as “Pulse Remembrance Day” and asked Floridians to acknowledge a moment of silence at 9 am Saturday morning, and order all State flags lowered to half-staff until sunset.
Gov. DeSantis called the “ISIS-inspired terrorist” attack a “senseless and hateful act and of the darkest moments in our state’s history.”
Florida Speaker of the House Chris Sprowls stated, "Five years later, the 49 souls that lost their lives at Pulse are remembered and mourned. Senseless, hate-filled violence has no place in our society. Today we pray for their families and loved ones. May they always be remembered."
DeSantis’ statement comes on the heels of criticism waged against him by openly gay Democratic Socialist State Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith (D), who called the governor “heartless” for vetoing funding for “critical mental health for survivors” of the Pulse shooting just days before the 5 year anniversary of the incident.
Early last week, Rep. Smith went as far as to say that DeSantis was trying to “erase” the identity of the gay community by gutting the state funding and signing into law a transgender sports ban bill.
“Cruelty is the point with Gov. Ron DeSantis. He’s sending a message to LGBTQ Floridians that he doesn’t care about their needs. He doesn’t see them. He doesn’t hear them. He’s erasing their identities and lived experience,” asserted Rep. Smith.
DeSantis's message calling for the remembrance of the Pulse Nightclub shooting appears to speak for itself.
Five years ago, an ISIS-inspired terrorist took 49 innocent lives at Orlando’s Pulse Nightclub. Florida honors the memories of those who were murdered on one of the darkest days in Florida’s history. pic.twitter.com/p8tRFV8sJ9
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) June 12, 2021
