About two dozen people came out to Orlando City Hall Saturday evening for a memorial rally and candlelight vigil for the families and friends of the Pulse shooting victims.
- Rally, memorial organized by online group LGBT United
- Event included guest speakers, balloon release, walk
- 12th Annual ONYX Awards also paid tribute to recent Orlando shooting victims
LGBT United, an online community, hosted "The Orlando Memorial Rally" that included several speakers, including Berto Cintron, who lost his younger brother, Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, 20, during the Pulse tragedy.
“I’m still in shock. I can’t believe it, I used to be with him all the time," said Cintron. "We went to the same clubs all the time. That same night I was supposed to be there and just decided to stay at home."
Cintron was speaking out for the first time at the rally, which included a balloon release and a walk to Lake Eola.
“A lot of people changed over this, and my brother’s part of that," said Cintron. "And it's hard to just walk around and you see "Orlando Strong" everywhere, "Orlando Strong, Orlando Strong," but when it’s that close to you, it’s a reminder."
Meanwhile, across the street at the Dr. Phillips Center, the 12th annual ONYX Awards also paid tribute Saturday night to those recently killed in shootings in Orlando. Included in the tribute were the Pulse victims; Gino Nicolas, who was shot and killed in a drive-by shooting; and Christina Grimmie, a singer who was killed a few nights before the Pulse tragedy.