"And love is love is love is love is love is love"
I've been sitting here trying to write for what feels like days but has truly only been hours
Because there has been yet another act of hatred that needs to shared
A man saw love and decided that what belongs to us should no longer be ours
49 of our people gone, left in the street, bared
I have never been ashamed of who I am
And I am who I am, but not without fear
I am open, and I am proud, but damn
Let's get one thing clear
I will not let this monster keep me hidden in the closet
I was there for far to long
This will galvanize our movement, not stop it
We shouldn't have to prove that we are strong and that we don't just live on this Earth, but we belong
And yet here we are
Being erased yet again
But this time it's literal, this time there was a mass shooting at a safe space, a gay bar
Why must we lose so much to even begin to gain
People are telling me, don't make it political
But they politicized us using bathrooms and jobs
They do not get to depoliticize our deaths, because this shit is critical
Y'all are telling me to keep quiet while the parents of the lost youth sob
We no longer get to feel safe in places designed for safety
We no longer get to feel free in places designed for freedom
But we will continue to live our lives bravely
We will continue to refuse to be beaten
Because life is not a game
There are lives being destroyed, lives being taken
And we need to keep this movement aflame
So come on America, rise up, awaken
Edward Sotomayor Jr., 34.
Stanley Almodovar III, 23.
Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, 20.
Juan Ramon Guerrero, 22.
Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, 36.
Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz, 22.
Luis S. Vielma, 22.
Kimberly Morris, 37.
Eddie Jamoldroy Justice, 30.
Darryl Roman Burt II, 29.
Deonka Deidra Drayton, 32.
Alejandro Barrios Martinez, 21.
Anthony Luis Laureanodisla, 25.
Jean Carlos Mendez Perez, 35.
Franky Jimmy Dejesus Velazquez, 50.
Amanda Alvear, 25.
Martin Benitez Torres, 33.
Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon, 37.
Mercedez Marisol Flores, 26.
Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado, 35.
Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez, 25.
Simon Adrian Carrillo Fernandez, 31.
Oscar A. Aracena-Montero, 26.
Enrique L. Rios, Jr., 25 years old.
Miguel Angel Honorato, 30 years old.
Javier Jorge-Reyes, 40 years old.
Joel Rayon Paniagua, 32 years old
Jason Benjamin Josaphat, 19 years old
Cory James Connell, 21 years old
Juan P. Rivera Velazquez, 37 years old
Luis Daniel Conde, 39 years old
Shane Evan Tomlinson, 33 years old
Juan Chevez-Martinez, 25 years old
Jerald Arthur Wright, 31
Leroy Valentin Fernandez, 25
Tevin Eugene Crosby, 25
Jonathan Antonio Camuy Vega, 24
Jean C. Nives Rodriguez, 27
Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala, 33
Brenda Lee Marquez McCool, 49
Yilmary Rodriguez Sulivan, 24
Christopher Andrew Leinonen, 32
Angel L. Candelario-Padro, 28
Frank Hernandez, 27
Paul Terrell Henry, 41
