Oakland Athletics' Pride Night to honor Orlando victims
OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- The Oakland Athletics are hosting its second annual Pride Night on Tuesday evening. It's a previously planned event, but following Sunday's shooting in Orlando, the team decided to make some changes.
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This is the second year the A's celebrate Pride Night. Like last year, the pregame ceremony was supposed to be a lively celebration of the LGBTQ community. But instead, the organization decided to honor the Orlando victims in a more somber way.
"Instead of a ceremonial first pitch, we thought it would be appropriate to just not have one and have a ball placed ceremoniously on the mound, to remember all the people who lost their lives," said A's spokesperson Troy Smith.
Part of the proceeds from Tuesday's game will be donated to three Bay Area charities - AIDS Project of the East Bay, Our Space, and Rainbow Community Center.
People have reacted to this mass shooting in different ways.
For Jessica Uhl, donating blood on Tuesday was a way to respond to a crisis which can happen anywhere and anytime.
"Especially when there is tragedy, I think it's important for people no matter where they live, to show their support," she said. "Even though we are far, we can do something."
Since 9/11, every time there is a tragedy, more people tend to donate.
"And just remember that it's the blood that's available during times of tragedy that helps victims," said Natalia Hellems with Blood Centers of the Pacific.
PHOTOS: Powerful reactions to Orlando around the world
Coincidentally, June 14 is World Blood Donor Day.
In San Francisco's Castro District, people continue to show their solidarity with Orlando by showing up at a memorial. The Puerto Rican flag is on display reminding everyone that so many of the victims were originally from that Caribbean Island.
"Speaking as an African American trans person, there is so much violence in the world today and we need more protections in our communities," said San Francisco resident Peaches Banks.
A GoFundMe account has been set up for the victims and families of the mass shooting in Orlando, click here, for more information.
Click here for full coverage on the deadly mass shooting in Orlando.
