Vigil for victims of the Pulse nightclub held in Palm Springs

This Monday marks a year since terror struck a gay nightclub in Orlando.

49 people were killed and dozens were wounded during the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. History. One of the deadliest acts of violence against LGBT people.

Saturday, the LGBT Community Center of the Desert, along with the City of Palm Springs, held a community-wide vigil to remember the victims of the tragedy.

“One year after the Pulse Nightclub attack, we want our brothers and sisters to know that we are in solidarity with the Orlando and Latinx LGBT community,” said Mike Thompson, CEO of The Center.

The vigil took place on Arenas Road, between Indian Canyon Drive and Calle Encilia in Palm Springs.

All 49 names of the victims of the attack were read, along with remarks by several Palm Springs and Coachella Valley leaders.

Many in Saturday’s crowd remembering how they felt when they heard the news.

“I remember feeling shock fear um and really wanting to escape and I actually did. I went to the Whitewater Preserve for a few hours and cleared my mind,” said Alexis Ortega, engagement manager at the LGBT Center of the Desert.

Rep. Dr. Raul Ruiz said it reminds him of the need for more action to prevent gun violence.

“I feel very frustrated, that we are making very slow, minimal, if any progress on the issue of gun violence and it’s prevention,” Ruiz said. “That’s very concerning. We need to continue to push for equality through the equality act. We need to tone down the hateful rhetoric that politicians are making, to really promote our values of acceptance respect and love for all communities, despite our differences.”

At 11:02 p.m., which was the time at which the first shots were fired (Pacific Time), a minute of silence was observed at the vigil as well as in the surrounding businesses to give a true sense of the weight of what happened last year in Orlando.

This event was one of several across the nation in solidarity with the Orlando community.