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#PrayforOrlando lifts thoughts, prayers for shooting victims

(RNS) After the worst mass shooting in U.S. history, people take to social media to #PrayforOrlando.
#PrayforOrlando lifts thoughts, prayers for shooting victims
Friends and family members embrace outside the Orlando, Fla., police headquarters during the investigation of the deadly shooting at the Pulse nightclub, June 12, 2016. Photo courtesy of REUTERS/Steve Nesius
Kimberly Winston

(RNS) Minutes after a gunman opened fire on a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla., early Sunday (June 12) in the worst mass shooting in U.S. history, social media platforms were swamped with prayers for the victims:

 


https://twitter.com/baileyhunt01/status/742011815450775552

https://twitter.com/IAmStew_18/status/742011661687640064

Police identified the gunman, slain at the site, as Omar Saddiqui Mateen, an American citizen living in Port St. Lucie, Fla. That prompted a round of posts commenting on the shooter’s religion and nationality.

 

https://twitter.com/lattelukeyy/status/742016291146452992

https://twitter.com/rbmarchi40/status/742015419213455360

https://twitter.com/lindsuck/status/742014790223171584

Islamic groups, including the Council on American-Islamic Relations’ Florida chapter, were quick to condemn the attack, which occurred during the holy month of Ramadan:

Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., one of only two Muslims who serve in Congress, also expressed sadness:

But while many asked for prayers, others used the #PrayforOrlando hashtag to express frustration, resistance and, in some cases, calls to action.

https://twitter.com/RationalNerd/status/742012134012428288

https://twitter.com/brandonhudson90/status/742007616608604160

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