FLORENCE – The whole thing was put together in about 36 hours, this demonstration of community and love, song and prayers. Monday evening was supposed to be a celebration down at Wilson Park… Part of the scheduled events of the Shoals PrideFest… But the venue was transformed into a place of reflection, healing and commiseration for the victims of the Orland murders on Sunday morning. The evening was presided over by Shoals PrideFest President, Benjamin Newbern, who gave a powerful address to the crowd of several hundred attendees. He stressed the need for legislation in Alabama that would prohibit discrimination based on sexual preference. He urged political leaders in The Shoals to enact local ordinances to that effect, and become the first region in the state to pronounce equality for all citizens.
Attended by people from all over, it was a moving event that belied just how hastily organized it was.
Gay and straight… Religious and non-religious . .. Multi-ethnic in the attendance…
The Quad-Cities Daily was on hand to record the evening in EVENT PHOTOS. We present them here.
