Orlando, United States, (EFE).- For the first time since the 2016 massacre that left 49 people dead, the former Pulse nightclub in Orlando opened its doors this week to survivors and families of the victims. Nine years on, many are still grappling with the trauma, and holding onto hope for a long-promised memorial.
“I still can’t believe it,” said Jose Luis, a Puerto Rican survivor who lost his close friend Edward Sotomayor Jr. in the attack.
Speaking to EFE outside the shuttered venue on Thursday, Jose Luis recounted how he arrived at Pulse shortly after 2:00 am on Jun. 12, 2016, only to learn that his friend had already been shot twice in the head.
The nightclub, once a symbol of LGBTQ+ pride in Orlando, now sits on a busy roadside lined with rainbow-colored fencing and a temporary memorial.
Photographs of the victims, Puerto Rican flags, and bouquets the space, as buses carrying grieving families continue to arrive.
Families step inside pulse for the first time
Though Pulse has remained closed since the shooting, Orlando authorities granted survivors and relatives private access this week, an emotional milestone nearly a decade in the making.
Some, like Jose Luis, were unable to bring themselves to enter.
“I sat under a tree the entire morning,” he said, visibly moved. “I walked up to the door a few times, but I just couldn’t go in.”
Pulse was hosting its weekly “Latin Night” on the night of the massacre, making the tragedy especially devastating for the Hispanic community, particularly Puerto Ricans.
The gunman, Omar Mateen, a 29-year-old US-born man of Afghan descent, opened fire in the club and killed 49 people, injuring 58 more, before being shot dead by police.
In a call to 911 during the attack, Mateen pledged allegiance to the so-called Islamic State and later posted a Facebook message claiming vengeance for the US-led investigations in Iraq and Syria.
Memorial project finally moves forward
After years of delays and political wrangling, city officials have announced concrete plans to build a permanent memorial at the Pulse site.
Construction is expected to begin in June 2026, with the opening scheduled for fall 2027, according to city spokesperson Ashley Papagni.
“We wish this had happened sooner,” admitted Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer.
The project will cost approximately 12 million dollars, with 7.5 million dollars pledged by the City of Orlando and an additional 5 million dollars from Orange County.
Dyer also clarified that all funds previously raised by charitable foundations in the wake of the massacre have been distributed to the families of the victims.
Despite the renewed momentum, not all local leaders acknowledged the communities most affected. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis published a message of support Thursday but did not mention the LGBTQ+ or Hispanic communities, a departure from previous years.
Throughout the day, remembrance events were held across Orlando, including services at the First United Methodist Church and City Hall, as residents gathered to reflect and mourn.
For many like Jose Luis, the grief has never faded. But the prospect of a lasting tribute on the site where so many lives were lost brings a glimmer of peace. “We’ve waited so long,” he said, standing by the rainbow-painted fence. “It’s time to remember them the right way.”
bec/seo
