Vigil Planned Tonight In L.A. For Orlando Mass-Shooting Victims

 LOS ANGELES -- At 7 p.m. tonight, the Los Angeles LGBT Center will host a candlelight vigil and rally at Los Angeles City Hall for the victims of Sunday's shooting massacre at a gay nightclub in Orlando.

"A horrible tragedy has occurred in Orlando. In an attack on a gay bar, 49 people were killed. Police are calling it 'a domestic terror incident.' Whatever it is called, it is all too familiar to the LGBT community." the organization wrote on its Facebook page. 

"Last year, nearly two dozen transgender women were murdered nationwide. In the most recent report in Los Angeles, hate crimes on the basis of sexual orientation grew by 14 percent, and their level of violence surpassed the last 13 years. We cannot allow this hateful, murderous incident to silence us. Yes, we must express our grief and anger. But we must also make it clear that we will NOT be deterred by hate and violence, and that we celebrate in defiance of bigotry and fear. We stand for peace. We stand for community. We stand for Orlando."

Los Angeles City Hall is at 200 N Spring St.

• Also see: Father Of Alleged Orlando Mass Shooter Frequents Valley Area To Tape TV Show

Related coverage: 

• 'This Has Nothing To Do With Religion,' Orlando Shooter's Dad Says Before Releasing Video
• California Reacts With Sorrow to Orlando Shootings
• Despite Orlando Shooting, L.A. Pride Festival, Parade in WeHo Goes On
• Morning Briefing: Overnight Developments in the Orlando Nightclub Shooting
• Man Arrested with Guns, Explosives Said He Was Going to L.A. Pride: Police

--City News Service contributed to the report/Shutterstock image