Vigil for Orlando Shooting Victims in Collingswood Tuesday Night

Collingswood, NJ -- The community came out for a vigil that was held in memory of Sunday's mass shooting that left 49 people dead and another 53 people injured in Orlando in Collingswood on Tuesday night.

"We're sad, and we're hurting, but this is why I love this town," said Michael Snyder, indicating the masses of people that showed up at the vigil at the corner of Haddon and Woodlawn avenues.

Snyder, the owner of Grooveground coffee shop, and Kevin Gatto, the owner of Verde Salon, came up with the idea when they were on social media following the shooting.

"There was a need for it," Snyder said. "We're such a close-knit community and everyone's super friendly. It's what motivated me to do it."

Snyder and Gatto worked with PFLAG Collingswood, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, the borough and the mayor to put the vigil together in about 24 hours.

"There's been phenomenal support throughout the whole community," Snyder said.

"We all want to heal, and to come together to express our sorrow," Gatto said. "We needed a place to start the healing process."

The night included speeches from both Snyder and Gatto, as well as Mayor Jim Maley, representatives from Moms Demand Action and PFLAG and two LGBTQ members of the Collingswood community.

"This typifies what this town has always been about, but it's distressing that we're doing this again," Maley said. " ... The lessons we can take from this are to take care of each other. For those who are prone to do horrific things, we need to find a way to take care of them so all of us can love together in peace without fear."

Maley also made reference to Christina Grimmie, the South Jersey native and former finalist on NBC's "The Voice" who was fatally shot while signing autographs after a concert the day before the attack at  Pulse Orlando Night Club & Ultra Lounge, a popular gay club. Both shootings took place in Orlando.

"It's in the same vein," Maley said. "It leaves us upset about the loss of life, and we can't fathom why it happened."

Maley also quoted Theodore Roosevelt when he said, "This country is not a good place for any of us to live in unless we make it a good place for all of us to live in."

Following the speeches, candles were lit for the crowd, the names of all 49 victims were read, and white balloons were released into the clear night sky to symbolize sympathy, support and love.

See: List of Victims Killed In Orlando Shooting

"I couldn't listen to the names because that makes it too real for me," said Linda Iannato, whose son came out to her when he was 23 years old. "Since my son came out, one of my biggest fears has been for his safety. He lives in the city (Philadelphia) and he's in a community where he's welcome, but the reality is that there are some people who will never accept him. ... I've always accepted him, but my sadness comes from hoping that he is always safe."

Most of Mia Crivaro's friends are homosexual. She attended Tuesday night's vigil for this reason and because she calls herself a big advocate for love.

"I've always worried about my friends," Crivaro said. "I'm in constant fear. Unfortunately, it's one more thing that makes them a target, and I don't want them to be a target for anything." 

The vigil came one day after thousands of people attended a candelight vigil in Philadelphia, among other vigils held nationwide.

Kevin Kelley, who recently moved into the borough, attended both vigils. While they had good turnouts, he feels there could be more support from outside the LGBTQ community.

"Whenever there's a catastrophe, the whole country comes together," Kelley said. "I moved to New York a few months after 9/11. It was so abrasive before that, and after that, it was the most welcoming community. There was so much unity, you wouldn't want to be anywhere but there. The country comes together after school shootings, Waco, Timothy McVeigh. All those things were horrible and everyone came together. I went to the vigil in Philly, and there was a lot of support from heterosexual allies, but the whole city wasn't there. This happened to the USA. It was triggered by hate and it focused on the gay community, but it happened to everyone." 

What makes the LGBTQ community in Collingswood special is that there is no difference between it and the heterosexual community, Maley said. 

"No one is treated any differently," Maley said. "It's special because it's not."

Maley said both communities participate in all the same things, and although the LGBTQ community has a strong presence in Collingswood, the entire community thrives as one, and Kelley concurred.

"It's just a quiet, nice, friendly community that doesn't care who you are," he said. "I think that is absolutely the right approach. It's exactly what we need to move forward as a society.  I hope to see a society one day that erases the hate and just says 'people are people.' Collingswood knows it has gay residents and they treat them exactly the same as the everyone else in the community.  That's how it needs to be everywhere.  The acceptance makes me proud to be a new member of the town."

The first attached image depicts one of several signs on display during Tuesday night's vigil.

In the second attached image from Tuesday night's vigil, organizers help Evie Colestock and Ruby Rosato light their candles.

In the third image, white balloons are released into the night sky to symbolize sympathy, support and love.