Orlando victims mourned in vigils in Moncton, Fredericton

A few hundred people gathered at separate vigils in Moncton and Fredericton on Monday eveningto mourn strangers killed in a weekend shooting in a gay nightclub in Orlando.

In Moncton, Kerry Rakusonand her daughter Ashlyn were among the 200 people who gathered in Riverfront Park in Moncton to remember the victims.

• N.B. vigils organized for victims of Orlando massacre

"I think that it's just a horrible, horrible condition for humanity right now that somebody would attack innocent people like that," said Rakuson.

"It's horrible for straight, gay.

"I think it's nice to see the community come together and support one another and it's a really important part of everybody trying to understand a tragedy that you can't make sense of."

In Fredericton, more than60 people gathered in a circle on a night of reflection and mourning in the parking lot of Clinic 554.

'Safe' space

Adrian Edgar, the medical director at the private clinic, organized the vigil because he wanted people to come and feel safe.

"I just thought we have to do something, we have to do something now to say there are safe spaces," said Edgar.

We have to do something now to say there are safe spaces.- Adrian Edgar, medical director Clinic 554

At Fredericton's city council meeting Monday, Mayor Mike O'Brien announced the city would be flying the Pride flag at half-mast outside City Hall for at least the rest of the week.

"You can't explain why things like this happenand it's not for for me to do that," said O'Brien.

"But I do know the tragedy was a target toward a certain group and that in itself makes it even worse."

The New Brunswick Legislature was flying the Pride flag Monday in recognition of the Orlando shooting and June being Pride month.

Other vigils planned

Pride Fredericton will be holding a vigil for the Orlando victims outside City Hall at 6 p.m. on Thursday.

Saint John Pride has organized a vigil for 9:15 p.m. Tuesday at Fort LaTour.

What has occurred has affected each of us differently but we all feel a great loss.- Michael Cummings, Saint John Pride president

"What has occurred has affected each of us differently but we all feel a great loss," said Saint John Pride president Michael Cummings in a notice about the vigil on the group's Facebook page.

"This act of violence happened to a community that all LGBTQ+ individuals belong to and to think that many innocent souls were targeted for being part of that community is frightening," he said.

"While we did not know any of hte individuals involved, it is as though we lost a friend, a neighbour, an ally."