Many come to SF's Castro District to grieve over Orlando shooting

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ByLilian Kim KGO logo
Tuesday, June 14, 2016
Many come to SF's Castro District to grieve over Orlando shooting
People in San Francisco are finding comfort grieving together for the victims of the Orlando shooting.

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- People in San Francisco are finding comfort grieving together for the victims of the Orlando shooting.

Many are flocking to the Castro, under the rainbow flag at Harvey Milk Plaza where the names of the victims are written in chalk.

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Larry Bisagni says this was his way of coping and adding the ages next to each name was important.

"To really kind of articulate that these people were just in the beginning of life, becoming an adult, living in a world today where we think coming out is not a big deal," said Bisagni.

For Azalea Pony, this was her way of grieving, asking others if they want to talk. At one point, she had four people in her circle.

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Mourners gather at memorial in the Castro District in San Francisco, Monday, June 13, 2016.
KGO-TV

"I think we don't have enough spaces where people can just talk to strangers about anything and there are a lot of people that are hurting and we need to connect," she said.

At 18th and Castro, this familiar spot of community mourning becomes a source of comfort once again. The flowers, the candles, the tributes, keep coming.

"The expression of the people in our community when tragedy strikes, it's just a way of connecting with that and just a way of feeling that I'm not alone," said Sasha Vodnik, a San Francisco resident.

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For others, it's a reminder that the struggle continues.

"I know how far we've come but it's a still a long way to go," said Amber Hicks.

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Angel Mendez, standing outside the Orlando Regional Medical Center, holds up a cell phone photo trying to get information about his brother Jean C. Mendez.
AP

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