Pulse Nightclub Shooting: Victims to be honored in virtual remembrance ceremony

ORLANDO — Next Friday marks four years since 49 people were murdered Orlando at Pulse nightclub.

As the city has done on June 12 every year since the shooting, community members will come together to remember those lost in what was the nation’s worst mass shooting at the time.

But this year, amid the coronavirus pandemic, the event is moving online instead of a mass gathering.

“It’s just hard. It’s hard to imagine that we can’t just be physically together just to hold each other up,” said Barbara Poma, with the onePULSE Foundation.

Poma, the owner of Pulse nightclub, said the site will be open for families of the victims, survivors and first responders June 12.

Otherwise, the commemoration event will be held virtually.

"We have thousands of people who come every year, and we wish we could have thousands of people together this year. But to make sure we take care of everyone, we have to do our part,” Poma said, according to WFTV.

Each year during the ceremony, a rainbow has appeared. So this year, she wants the city to embody the rainbow.

“Since we will not be there in person to experience the rainbow this year, we encourage everyone to be that rainbow," Poma said.

Whether it’s a rainbow flag out front or bright colors on your shirt, she wants everyone to post photos online of how you are remembering the 49 people killed.

"We just think it's important to stand in solidarity that way," she said.

The ceremony will start at 7 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on June 12 streamed live on the onePULSE Foundation’s Facebook and YouTube pages, as well as on WFTV.com.

Cox Media Group