San Francisco Vigil and March Honoring Orlando Victims Draws Thousands [Photos]

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - Thousands of people from throughout the Bay Area gathered in San Francisco Sunday night in a peaceful show of solidarity with the victims of the Orlando, Florida, massacre. 

The mass shooting killed 50 people and injured another 53 early Sunday morning at a gay nightclub. 

Napa-Sonoma photographer Al Francis attended the San Francisco event and documented the gathering, which transformed from a vigil at Harvey Milk Plaza into a march to City Hall.

The photos show the LGBTQ community beginning to gather, leading up to the 8 p.m. start time. In addition to being issued candles, they wrote notes of condolence on small slips of paper and tied them to a railing.

The crowd steadily swelled into the thousands. After hearing speakers at the vigil, attendees spontaneously marched to City Hall. 

"San Francisco is mourning and fighting with you #actionfororlando we are terrified we are sick we are tired we are utterly heartbroken but we know if we stop they will win," ledrecording wrote on Instagram as the march was in progress.

There was a roar from the crowd in response to seeing City Hall lit in the colors of gay pride. Once at City Hall, march participants sang in unison.

The vigil and march was peaceful from start to finish. There was a heavy but unobtrusive police presence, with officers on the perimeter and walking through the crowd.

--All photos by Al Francis