Hundreds march for victims of Orlando mass shooting

Hundreds of people participated in a candlelight march in downtown Palm Springs for the victims of the Orlando mass shooting.

The Thursday night march started at Francis Stevens Park then traveled south on Palm Canyon Drive into the crowds and Villagefest before coming back up Indian Canyon Drive to the park.

“A lot of people think this is a gay issue it ‘s but it’s also a human issue and this is a crime against humanity. To walk into any place and murder 49 people is a crime against humanity,” said Todd Brown of Palm Springs.

“Orlando affects us all. I want to show support for Orlando and show my support for Palm Springs and show that the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community are not different than anybody else,” said Dr. Sharon Siegel.

A major topic of discussion at the event was gun control. Many of the people who marched were vocal about the need for stricter gun laws.

“Assault rifles were invented for war and this in not war. We should all love each other and shouldn’t be killing each other. It’s just sick. I’m an old man and this is the sickest it has ever been, even when we were in the closet in the ’60s it wasn’t anything like this,” said Denis DeGroot of Palm Springs.

Supporters also would like for sexually active gay men to be able to donate blood.

The Human Rights Committee of Desert Hot Springs also held a candlelight vigil for the victims of the Orlando massacre on Thursday evening.

JOE GALLI CAN BE FOUND ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.