The memorial services for the 49 people murdered at Pulse nightclub in Orlando began Wednesday night, with a visitation for Javier Jorge-Reyes, 40. On Thursday, funerals were held for Kimberly Morris, 37; Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, 20; Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, 36; and Juan Ramon Guerrero, 22. On Friday, friends and loved ones will bury Anthony Luis Laureano Disla, 25. The funerals are expected to continue for two weeks, both large public ceremonies and small, private services.
The medical examiner's office began releasing the bodies after the autopsies were completed on Tuesday, and the same day, local citizens concerned about funeral protests by Westboro Baptist Church and other anti-LGBT groups formed a group called Human Chain to monitor the funerals. Hundreds of volunteers showed up to guard the Jorge-Reyes service, the Orlando Sentinel reports. Authorities have warned mourners to be cautious, and at least one minister was advised to wear a bulletproof vest. Some of the victims, aged 18 to 50, will be flown to Puerto Rico for burial.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
Today's political cartoons - May 4, 2024Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - reflections in the pond, riding shotgun, and more
-
5 high-caliber cartoons about Kristi Noem shooting her puppyCartoons Artists take on the rainbow bridge, a farm upstate, and more
-
The Week Unwrapped: Why is the world running low on blood?Podcast Scientists believe universal donor blood is within reach – plus, the row over an immersive D-Day simulation, and an Ozempic faux pas
-
Trump criminal trial starts with rulings, reminderSpeed Read The first day of his historic trial over hush money payments was mostly focused on jury selection
-
Parents of school shooter sentenced to 10-15 yearsSpeed Read Jennifer and James Crumbley are the first parents to be convicted in a US mass shooting
-
Unlicensed dealers and black market gunsSpeed Read 68,000 illegally trafficked guns were sold in a five year period, said ATF
-
Bankman-Fried gets 25 years for fraudSpeed Read Former "crypto king" Sam Bankman-Fried will report to federal prison
-
Feds raid Diddy homes in alleged sex trafficking caseSpeed Read Homeland Security raided the properties of hip hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs
-
'Goon Squad' cops sentenced for torturing 2 Black menSpeed Read The former Mississippi law enforcement officers pleaded guilty last year
-
Michigan shooter's dad guilty of manslaughterspeed read James Crumbley failed to prevent his son from killing four students at Oxford High School in 2021
-
Shooting at Chiefs victory rally kills 1, injures 21Speed Read Gunfire broke out at the Kansas City Chiefs' Super Bowl victory parade in Missouri
