They walked through the June heat draped in pride flags and carrying signs for the 1.4 miles from Turlington Plaza to Gainesville City Hall to honor the victims of the Pulse night club shooting in Orlando.
Islam On Campus and the Pride Student Union organized the small group of marchers who eventually joined nearly 1,000 others at Gainesville City Hall for a candlelight vigil at 7 p.m. Monday night.
Jacof Teran told the group, “I guess all I can say is thank you for being here and doing what you can do and not just sharing a Facebook post or changing your cover photo."
At City Hall community leaders and members of the clergy addressed the billowing crowd standing in the sweltering heat under thunderous skies in unification.
Diana Moreno, program coordinator of Hispanic-Latino Affairs at the University of Florida, told the crowd to not let homophobia and islamophobia takeover, especially against the Muslim community.
"It is our responsibility as a community to stand together against both queerphobia and islamophobia.”
The speakers wrapped up as the sun began to set and the plaza dimmed. Volunteers and attendees lit candles and tea-lights. Friends embraced and sat in silence to remember the 49 dead and the 53 injured by shooter Omar Mateen at Pulse nightclub in Orlando early Sunday morning.
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Participants in the march from Turlington Plaza to Gainesville City Hall gather around speakers before the march. (Kali Kavouklis/WUFT News)
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Participants in the march from Turlington Plaza to Gainesville City Hall gather signs to carry in the march. (Kali Kavouklis/WUFT News)
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A banner led the dozens of marchers from Turlington Plaza to Gainesville City Hall on Monday evening. (Kali Kavouklis/WUFT News)
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Dozens participated in the march organized by Islam On Campus and the Pride Student Union. (Kali Kavouklis/WUFT News)
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Marchers cross Main Street on their way to Gainesville City Hall. (Kali Kavouklis/WUFT News)
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Attendees of the candlelight vigil participate in a moment of silence. (Kali Kavouklis/WUFT News)
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Attendees of the candlelight vigil participate in a moment of silence. (Kali Kavouklis/WUFT News)
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Attendees of the candlelight vigil listen to the speakers. (Kali Kavouklis/WUFT News)
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An attendee of the candlelight vigil films speaker Rev. Jim Wright. (Kali Kavouklis/WUFT News)
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An attendee interrupts a speaker and takes over the microphone. (Kali Kavouklis/WUFT News)
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Dan Hendrix, holds up photos of the victims of the shooting at Pulse in Orlando. (Kali Kavouklis/WUFT News)
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Shanti Cruz and Diana Moreno embrace following Moreno's speech at Gainesville City Hall. (Kali Kavouklis/WUFT News)
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March attendees Bethany Sammel, 17, and Khanh Nguyen, 25, light candles at Gainesville City Hall. (Kali Kavouklis/WUFT News)
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Nellie Farley watches a speaker at the candlelight vigil at Gainesville City Hall. (Kali Kavouklis/WUFT News)
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Ariel Berrian, 19, and Cadee Hall, 21, participate in the candlelight vigil at Gainesville City Hall. (Kali Kavouklis/WUFT News)
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Jackie Dempsey, 21, lights the candle of Corey Gallet de St. Aurin, 31. (Kali Kavouklis/WUFT News)
