2020 Democrats mark three years since Pulse nightclub shooting

On the three-year anniversary of the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Fla., 2020 Democratic presidential hopefuls paid tribute to the 49 victims and renewed calls for gun control. 

Wednesday marked three years since the 2016 shooting that authorities described as both a hate crime and an act of terror. Nearly 50 people were killed and dozens of others were injured when a gunman opened fire at the nightclub, a popular spot with the local LGBTQ and Hispanic communities. 

The third anniversary comes just after Democratic Florida Reps. Darren Soto, Stephanie Murphy and Val Demings introduced legislation to designate the club as a national memorial.

Former San Antonio Mayor and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro (D) tweeted Wednesday morning: “Three years ago, 49 lives were lost in a mass shooting targeting the Pulse nightclub—the deadliest attack on the LGBTQ community in history. We must act to end these tragedies, and prevent those that would harm LGBTQ individuals from obtaining firearms.”

Former Vice President Joe Biden said, “The horrific attack on Pulse Nightclub still shakes our nation to the core.” Biden shared a photo of himself with former President Obama visiting a memorial for the victims in Orlando after the attack.

{mosads}In an email and tweet to supporters marking the anniversary, South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg expressed support for the LGBTQ, Latino and black communities. Buttigieg, who would be the first openly gay president if elected, added that Congress should “deliver on common-sense gun safety laws supported by an American majority,” including universal background checks, a ban on assault weapons and incentivizing hate crime legislation at the state level.

“It was an attack on people who look like me, and an attack on people who look nothing like me. It was an attack on all of us. It was an attack on individuals expressing their sexuality, their heritage, their gender, and their freedom,” Buttigieg wrote. 

Former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D) posted a video of himself addressing a group of supporters about his campaign’s LGBTQ policy proposals, such as reversing President Trump’s ban on transgender troops in the military, fighting violence against transgender women of color, appointing federal judges who believe in the “full civil rights of every single American” and ending conversion therapy. 

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) called the shooting “an attack on our LGBTQ+ and Latinx communities” in a tweet and sent out an email to campaign supporters calling for “commonsense gun reform.” 

Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) tweeted, “Today we remember the 49 lives — mostly Latinx and LGBTQ+ — cut short from hate and gun violence three years ago. In their memory, let’s act to prevent the next heartbreak.”

She also shared the names of the 49 victims in a tweet from her official Senate account. 

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) tweeted “We remember the 49 lives lost to senseless gun violence and hate at the #Pulse nightclub in Orlando three years ago today. We must finally pass commonsense gun safety legislation, and continue the fight against hatred and bigotry in all its forms.”

Sanders also retweeted a post from the March For Our Lives organization, accusing Republicans of being “in the pocket” of the NRA.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) remembered those injured and killed in the shooting, tweeting “During PRIDE month, we honor our progress but know how much work remains ahead to pass gun safety legislation and protect LGBTQAmericans with the Equality Act and more.”

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, meanwhile, called the attack an “unthinkable act of hate and terror” and told the LGBTQ community “this city sees you, we welcome you and we stand with you.”

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) tweeted “We must do more than remember the victims: We must fight to end gun violence, and refuse to accept homophobia, transphobia, and racism — wherever it takes root.”

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D), former Rep. John Delaney (D-Md.), Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), Montana Gov. Steve Bullock (D), Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) also tweeted to mark the anniversary.

We lost their lives at #Pulse. In Congress, @repjohnlewis led us to take a seat on the House Floor until Republicans would stand up and do what’s right. They never did. We sat for over 26 hours to honor the victims of Pulse. Our work has never stopped. https://t.co/vqVU5Mksgj

— Eric Swalwell (@ericswalwell) June 12, 2019

Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) also addressed gun control legislation, vowing to “end the NRA’s reign” and “build a nation based on love and respect for one another.”

Former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper (D) also tweeted in support of #HonorThemWithAction.

And Miramar, Fla., Mayor Wayne Messam (D) tweeted that he would refuse to accept Congress’s lack of action on gun control as “the new norm.” 

—This report was updated at 6:26 p.m.