Gunshots Ruin the Night
Sunday, June 12, 2016, was a fateful day for the 320 people who were enjoying a “Latin Flavor” event at Pulse. Pulse is a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida. It was around 2 a.m. when an armed gunman killed 50 civilians wounding 53 others.
Omar Mateen, identified as the shooter, lived in Fort Pierce which is 120 miles away from Orlando's gay night club. After Mateen opened fire on the 320 people in the club, a uniformed officer on duty engaged him in a shootout near the club entrance until backup arrived. Additional police officers arrived on the scene and began shooting at the gunman. He then stopped shooting and retreated back to the bathroom where he had held several hostages.
The terrorist made three calls to 911 while he was in the club’s bathroom with hostages after he had conducted his initial attack. Mateen remained calm as he communicated with law enforcement about his further carnage. He also mentioned the Boston Marathon bombers and referred to them as “homeboys.”
According to FBI director James Comey, the gunman made his first call to 911 after an hour of opening fire, and then hung up. He then called again and talked briefly to the dispatcher and hung up again. The dispatcher called him back. This is when he said that he was doing it for the ISIS leader whom he named and pledged his loyalty to.
The gunman also pledged allegiance to the Islamic state during a call with police negotiators, according to Police Chief John Mina. The Chief added that the gunman was cool and calm during the call; he wasn’t asking much, the police negotiator was asking most of the questions.
The authorities attempted to negotiate with the killer, but as the negotiations unraveled and with hostages trapped in the bathroom for hours, the decision was made to breach the wall. The authorities first used an explosive, but it was not effective, so instead they used an armored vehicle to pierce the wall of the club and managed to make an entry hole. After opening the wall, dozens of hostages were able to escape. Mateen then emerged and was shot dead by the police.
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Assistant Special Agent in Charge Ronald Hopper of the FBI in Orlando said that the suspect drew the agency's attention in 2013 when he made an inflammatory comment to his fellow co-workers about having ties to terrorism. At that time Mateen was working as a contract security guard at a local courthouse where he told his fellow co-workers that he had ties with al-Qaida and Hezbollah.
Hopper said that, according to the investigation, Mateen told the agency he made the comment out of anger, for he thought his fellow co-workers were teasing him about being a Muslim. Mateen was investigated twice. The second time was in 2014 when he was linked to a US citizen, Moner Mohammad Abu-Salha, who blew himself up in a suicide attack in Syria. They were concerned that Mateen watched the videos made by radical clerical Anwar al-Awlaki. But later Mateen had gotten married and had a child, so they were no longer concerned.
Mateen had a firearm license since September 2011, according to the public records, and was also licensed to be a security officer. In a statement, G4ss said that Mateen had been an employee since September 10, 2007. Hopper added that Mateen legally bought two weapons, a long gun and a handgun, in the days leading up to the shooting. He also tried to buy body armor, but the store didn't sell Kevlar vests.
Although he pledged his allegiance to the Islamic State and shouted Allahu Akbar during the 911 call, his father, Meddique Mir Mateen, claimed that his son's actions had nothing to do with religion, but that a month ago Mateen was angered when he saw two men kissing.
Mourning of Orlando Victims
US President Barrack Obama ordered that the flag of the United States should be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and throughout the United States until the sunset on June 16, 2016, in honor of those who died during the attack.
Hundreds gathered on Boston Common on June 12 for a rally in solidarity with the victims of Orlando shooting.
The vigil was held in Orlando and in different parts of the country to mourn the victims of the attack. Also, a memorial formed at Dr. Phillips Center on June 13, 2016.
The Grand Place, Eiffel Tower and the City Hall of Brussels were illuminated in rainbow colors on June 12 to mourn the victims of the nightclub shooting.
It has already been established that hate crimes against LGBT members are under-reported. This is mainly due to lack of awareness, education and proper protocol in place. Since most of these crimes involve sexual violence, victims are hesitant to report them to the authorities. Many times, even the police do not show interest in pursuing hate crimes or even identifying them as such.
The situation has to be remedied immediately. As violent crimes against gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people increase every year, there is an urgency to bring in a new system which would make it possible for the authorities to pursue such hate crimes in accordance with the law.
Many countries working on establishing legislation on gender-based hate crimes have moved to fast track their resolutions and see to it that appropriate preventive measures are taken.
It has been suggested that law enforcement agencies across the world should train their officers and responders on the ways of classifying a hate crime and handling it properly. These agencies also have a major role to play in creating awareness regarding LGBT hate crimes. The subject requires extensive research which needs to be conducted on various communities, especially the LGBT youth.
Experts have stated that the gay, lesbian and bisexual youngsters are usually prime targets for LGBT hate crimes. In fact, the most common places where rape and forced sexual acts are carried out against these people are school grounds, clubs or popular hangouts.
Hate crimes have affected the lives of people all across the globe. Definitive action is required if the violence against LGBT members is to be curbed. In the United States, the first and foremost step which needs to be taken to ensure peace and co-existence is the smooth enforcement of the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act. Other than that, societies should play their individual role in helping and supporting each other.
It has been discussed that help centers and counseling, especially catering to LGBT persons, could go a long way in helping the youth in schools and various educational institutions.
A proper LGBT hate crime system is required where the authorities concerned would have to carefully define a gender-bias crime and take action against it. Police officers need to report on such a crime, considering every possible angle and taking into account all the details leading up to the incident.
The advocates of the cause are doing the best they can to bring the plight of LGBT community members in front of everyone. They have tried to highlight the discriminatory behavior that gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people are subjected to in their everyday lives on the basis of their sexual orientation. While change will come with time, one can only hope for a better and brighter future which will be devoid of discrimination and homophobia.