An open letter from mass shooting victims.
Mass shooting victims from across the country have signed onto an open letter in protest of the OnePULSE Foundation's private memorial-museum complex. This letter can be read below:
As people directly impacted by mass shootings from across the country, we stand together with the survivors, family members of victims, and community members who oppose the OnePulse Foundation and its efforts to build a museum and gift shop tourist attraction in Orlando, Florida in the aftermath of Orlando’s mass shooting. This would be unprecedented for a mass shooting.
The Pulse Club shooting on June 12, 2016 resulted in the death of 49 people and injured hundreds more inside the club physically and/or mentally.
We demand a tasteful and respectful public memorial to honor our loved ones where one can come to reflect, not a tourist attraction that charges admissions and sells mass shooting merchandise in a gift shop to capture “off season” dollars. The application even states that the plan is “to grow visitation through extensive marketing and advertising plans in partnership with area tourism leaders. The timing of many of these groups is in traditional off season, adding to the value of extended stays of our visitors, including the highly sought after LGBTQ community.
We believe that mass shootings should never be made into a spectacle or a source of revenue. Furthermore, family members deserve the right to choose how to memorialize the ones taken from them. The names and faces of our loved ones should never be used and exploited in this way. As shown through merchandising efforts, future museum plans that includes projected salaries rising above $2M, the OnePulse Foundation’s efforts to build a museum does just this.
They are expecting the cost of this to be $45M. They even earmarked $50K (or a total of $300K) to six of each finalists for the design team. Meanwhile victims’ families and survivors are still suffering and need help.
We stand in solidarity with Christine Leinonen (mother of murder victim Christopher Leinonen) and the Community Coalition Against a Pulse Museum.
Signed,
Christine Leinonen, only child Christopher Andrew Leinonen murdered at the Pulse Club in Orlando, FL on June 12, 2016
Jeff Xavier, shot multiple times but survived, six of his friends were murdered and he has undergone 12 surgeries (and needs two more) as a result of the Pulse Club shooting in Orlando, FL on June 12, 2016
Luis Ocasio, father of Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, murdered at the Pulse Club in Orlando, FL on June 12, 2016
Marimer Capo, mother of Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, murdered at the Pulse Club in Orlando, FL on June 12, 2016
Belinnette Ocasio-Capo, sister of Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, murdered at the Pulse Club in Orlando, FL on June 12, 2016
Wendy Berly, stepmom of Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, murdered at the Pulse Club in Orlando, FL on June 12, 2016
Karimer Capo, cousin of Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, murdered at the Pulse Club in Orlando, FL on June 12, 2016
Mark Gorbea, brother-in-law of Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, murdered at the Pulse Club in Orlando, FL on June 12, 2016
Juan Guerrero, father of Juan Guerrero, murdered at the Pulse Club in Orlando, FL on June 12, 2016
Aryam Guerrero, sister of Juan R. Guerrero, murdered at the Pulse Club in Orlando, FL on June 12, 2016
Olga Disla, mother of Anthony L. Laureano Disla, murdered at the Pulse Club in Orlando, FL on June 12, 2016
Jessica Velazquez, sister of Juan Pablo Rivera Velazquez, murdered at the Pulse Club in Orlando, FL on June 12, 2016
Chris Littlestar, wounded survivor (shot five times) at the Pulse Club in Orlando, FL on June 12, 2016
Javier Nava, wounded survivor (shot in abdomen) and 6 of his friends were murdered at the Pulse Club in Orlando, FL on June 12, 2016
Michael Santos, Brother of Brenda L. Marquez McCool, murdered saving the life of her son, Isaiah Henderson, at the Pulse Club in Orlando, FL on June 12, 2016 (she left behind 11 children and was considered the Mom of the Pulse Club)
Juliette Marshall, daughter of Brenda L. Marquez McCool, murdered at the Pulse Club in Orlando, FL on June 12, 2016
Michael Marquez, son of Brenda L. Marquez McCool, murdered at the Pulse Club in Orlando, FL on June 12, 2016
Irma Marquez, daughter-in-law of Brenda L. Marquez McCool, murdered at the Pulse Club in Orlando, FL on June 12, 2016
Kassandra Marquez, survivor and cousin to Brenda L. Marquez McCool, murdered at the Pulse Club in Orlando, FL on June 12, 2016
Jessenia Mimi Marquez, cousin of murder victim Brenda L. Marquez McCool and mother of survivor Kassandra Marie Marquez from the shooting at the Pulse Club in Orlando, FL on June 12, 2016
Aracelis Maria Jimenez, mother of Geraldo A. Ortiz-Jimenez, murdered at the Pulse Club in Orlando, FL on June 12, 2016
Norman Casiano-Mojica, shot multiple times from Pulse Club shooting in Orlando, FL on June 12, 2016
Norman, Casiano-Mojica, father of wounded survivor Norman Casiano-Moiica who was shot multiple times in the Pulse Club shooting in Orlando, FL on June 12, 2016
Griselle Vanessa Casiano, mother of wounded survivor Norman Casiano-Moiica who was shot multiple times at the Pulse Club in Orlando, FL on June 12, 2016
Tony Marrero, wounded survivor shot in the Pulse Club in Orlando, FL on June 12, 2016 (his co-worker and friend Luis Vielma was murdered)
Michael Morales, wounded survivor shot multiple times and boyfriend to Martin Benitez who was murdered at the Pulse Club in Orlando, FL on June 12, 2016
Jillian Amador, survivor from Pulse Club shooting in Orlando, FL on June 12, 2016
Christopher Hansen, survivor of the Pulse Club shooting in Orlando, FL on June 12, 2016
Julie Fritz, aunt of Christopher Hansen, survivor of the Pulse Club shooting in Orlando, FL on June 12, 2016
Keinon Carter, shot in leg and abdomen (tore through abdomen, small intestine and kidney to break his pelvis) and survived the Pulse Club shooting in Orlando, FL on June 12, 2016
Liz Finol, survivor from Pulse Club shooting in Orlando, FL on June 12, 2016
Steve Altinawi, survivor of the Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting in Las Vegas, NV on Oct. 1, 2017
David Armentrout, survivor (with his two children) of the Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting in Las Vegas, NV on Oct. 1, 2017
Stacie Armentrout, survivor (with her two children) of the Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting in Las Vegas, NV on Oct. 1, 2017
Paola Bautista, wounded survivor (shot) at the Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting in Las Vegas, NV on Oct. 1, 2017
Mary Bean, survivor of the Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting in Las Vegas, NV on Oct. 1, 2017
Jax Beran, survivor of the Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting in Las Vegas, NV on Oct.1, 2017
Jackie Beran, survivor of the Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting in Las Vegas, NV on Oct. 1, 2107
Anita Busch, cousin of Micayla Medek murdered in the theater shooting in Aurora, CO on July 20, 2012
Jodi Cannon-Lass, shot at the Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting in Las Vegas, NV on Oct. 1, 2017
Maria Carbonell, wounded survivor of the theater shooting in Aurora, CO on July 20, 2012
Jamal Carver, wounded survivor of the VA Tech mass shooting in Blacksburg, VA on April 16, 2007
Rosalinda Chernot, survivor of the Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting in Las Vegas, NV on Oct. 1, 2107
Melissa Cowden, mother of Gordon Cowden’s four children; Gordon was murdered in front of his two children in the theater shooting in Aurora, CO on July 20, 2012
Mary D’Avino, mother of Rachel D’Avino, murdered in murdered at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, CT Dec. 14, 2012
Hannah D’Avino Miranda, sister of Rachel D’Avino, murdered at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, CT on Dec. 14, 2012
Veronique De La Rosa, mother of Noah Pozner, murdered at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, CT on Dec. 14, 2012
Heather Dearman, cousin of Ashley Moser, catastrophically injured survivor (Ashley’s 6 year-old daughter Veronica was murdered) in the theater shooting in Aurora, CO on July 20, 2012
Carla Forsyth, survivor, wife of Steve Forsyth, murdered in the Clackamas Town Center Mall shooting in Clackamas, OR, Dec 11th, 2012
Alex Forsyth, son of Steve Forsyth, murdered in the Clackamas Town Center Mall shooting in Clackamas, OR, Dec 11th, 2012
Stephanie Gallegos, survivor of the Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting in Las Vegas, NV on Oct. 1, 2017
Roxanna Green, mother of 9 year-old Christina-Taylor Green, murdered in the Gabrielle Giffords/Safeway shooting in Tucson, AZ on Jan. 8, 2011
Pearl Grumet, mother-in-law of Natalie Grumet, survivor shot in the jaw during the of the Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting in Las Vegas, NV on Oct. 1, 2017
Ann Haerr, survivor of the Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting in Las Vegas, NV on Oct. 1, 2017
Cathy Hanzelik, survivor of the Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting in Las Vegas, NV on Oct. 1, 2017
Stephanie Herbstritt, sister of Jeremy Herbstritt, murdered in the Va Tech mass shooting in Blacksburg, VA on April 16, 2007
Jennifer Herbstritt, sister of Jeremy Herbstritt, murdered in the Va Tech mass shooting in Blacksburg, VA on April 16, 2007
Neil Heslin, father of Jesse Lewis, murdered in Newtown, CT at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT on Dec. 14, 2012
Melissa Holmes, injured survivor of the Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting in Las Vegas, NV on Oct. 1, 2017
Diane Howard, survivor of the Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting in Las Vegas, NV on Oct. 1, 2017
Katie Hughes, survivor, daughter of Steve Forsyth, murdered in the Clackamas Town Center Mall shooting in Clackamas, OR, Dec 11th, 2012
Aaron Jackson, survivor who was shot protecting his girlfriend at the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas, NV on Oct. 1, 2017
Jerri Jackson, mother of Matt McQuinn, murdered in the theater shooting in Aurora, CO on July 20, 2012
Steven Jackson, son of Dana Stout Wilson, shot in the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas, NV on Oct. 1, 2017
Pardeep Singh Kaleka, son of Satwant Singh Kaleka, murdered in the Oak Creek Sikh Temple shooting on August 5, 2012
Amardeep Kaleka, son of Satwant Singh Kaleka, murdered in the Oak Creek Sikh Temple shooting on August 5, 2012
Nathan Kemp, nephew of Steve Forsyth, murdered in the Clackamas Town Center Mall shooting in Clackamas, OR, Dec 11th, 2012
Paul Kemp, brother-in-law of Steve Forsyth, murdered in the Clackamas Town Center Mall shooting in Clackamas, OR, Dec 11th, 2012
Sara Kemp, niece of Steve Forsyth, murdered in the Clackamas Town Center Mall shooting in Clackamas, OR, Dec 11th, 2012
Beverly King, survivor of the Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting in Las Vegas, NV on Oct. 1, 2017
Erica Lafferty-Garbini, daughter of Sandy Hook principal Dawn Hochsprung, murdered at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown on Dec. 14, 2012
Cristina Lafferty, daughter of Sandy Hook principal Dawn Hochsprung, murdered at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, CT on Dec. 14, 2012
Barbara La Porte, mother of Matthew La Porte, murdered in the Va Tech mass shooting in Blacksburg, VA on April 16, 2007
Scott Larimer, father of John Larimer, murdered in the theater shooting in Aurora, CO on July 20, 2012
Kathleen Larimer, mother of John Larimer, murdered in the theater shooting in Aurora, CO on July 20, 2012
Mercer Lawing, brother Dana Stout Wilson, shot in the Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting in Las Vegas, NV on Oct. 1, 2017
Michelle Lawing family member Dana Stout Wilson, shot in the Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting in Las Vegas, NV on Oct. 1, 2017
Scarlett Lewis, mother of Jesse Lewis, murdered at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, CT on Dec. 14, 2012
Eric Mace, father of Ryanne Mace, murdered in the Northern Illinois University shooting in DeKalb, IL, Feb. 14, 2008
Mary Kay Mace, mother of Ryanne Mace, murdered in the Northern Illinois University shooting in DeKalb, IL, Feb. 14, 2008
Patricia Maisch, survivor, January 8, 2011 Gabreille Giffords/Safeway shooting in Tucson, AZ on Jan. 8, 2011
Kimberly Matthews-Slingerlander, survivor of the Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting in Las Vegas, NV on Oct. 1, 2017
Michelle McGuire, survivor of the Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting in Las Vegas, NV on Oct. 1, 2017
Jody McQuade, mother of Sean McQuade, wounded in the Va Tech mass shooting in Blacksburg, VA on April 16, 2007
Tom Mauser, father of Daniel Mauser, murdered in Columbine (CO) high school on April 20, 1999
Sumer Maxwell, survivor (along with her two children) of the Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting in Las Vegas, NV on Oct. 1, 2017
Jamie Maxwell, survivor (along with his two children) of the Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting in Las Vegas, NV on Oct. 1, 2017
Caleb Medley, catastrophically injured survivor from the theater shooting in Aurora, CO on July 20, 2012
Katie Medley, survivor of the theater shooting in Aurora, CO on July 20, 2012
Sue Nelson, survivor of the Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting in Las Vegas, NV on Oct. 1, 2017
Anna Leece Padilla, survivor of the theater shooting in Aurora, CO on July 20, 2012 Armondo Padilla, survivor of the theater shooting in Aurora, CO on July 20, 2012
Janet Perkins, mother of Quinn Glenn Cooper, murdered in the Umpqua Community College shooting in Roseburg, OR on Oct. 1, 2015
Lenny Pozner, father of Noah Pozner, murdered at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT on Dec. 14, 2012
Kimbur Presmyk, survivor of the Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting in Las Vegas on Oct. 1, 207
Cole Ryder, family member of gunshot victim Dana Stout Wilson from the Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting in Las Vegas, NV on Oct. 1, 2017
Phil Russo, husband of Shelia Lynn Russo, murdered in the Cedarville Rancheria Indian Reservation shooting in Alturas, CA on Feb. 20, 2014
Joe Samaha, father of Reema Samaha, murdered in the Va Tech mass shooting in Blacksburg, VA on April 16, 2007
Mona Samaha, mother of Reema Samaha, murdered in the Va Tech mass shooting in Blacksburg, VA on April 16, 2007
Coni Sanders, daughter of coach William “Dave” Sanders, murdered in Columbine (CO) high school on April 20, 1999
Dana Stout-Wilson, shot and survived the Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting in Las Vegas, NV on Oct. 1, 2017
Jessica Stout, sister of Dana Stout Wilson, shot in the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas, NV on Oct. 1, 2017
Robert Sullivan, grandfather of Veronica Moser-Sullivan, murdered in the theater shooting in Aurora, CO on July 20, 2012
Sue Sullivan, grandmother of Veronica Moser-Sullivan, murdered in the theater shooting in Aurora, CO on July 20, 2012
Katie Suzuki, cousin of Micayla Medek, murdered in the theater shooting in Aurora, CO on July, 20, 2012 and cousin of Stacy Suzuki.
Nicole Suzuki, cousin of Micayla Medek, murdered in the theater shooting in Aurora, CO on July, 20, 2012 and cousin of Stacy Suzuki.
Stacy Suzuki, survived the Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting in Las Vegas, NV on Oct. 1, 2017
Caren Teves, mother of Alex Teves, murdered in the theater shooting in Aurora, CO on July 20, 2012
Tom Teves, father of Alex Teves, murdered in the theater shooting in Aurora, CO on July 20, 2012
Jacquelyn Trujillo, survivor (at the age of 17) of the Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting in Las Vegas, NV on Oct. 1, 2017
Jessica Watts, cousin of Jonathan Blunk, murdered in the theater shooting in Aurora, CO on July 20, 2012
Bob Weiss, father of Veronika Weiss, murdered in the Isla Vista, CA mass shooting on May 23, 2014
Colleen Weiss, mother of Veronika Weiss, murdered in the Isla Vista, CA mass shooting on May 23, 2014
Elizabeth West, survivor of the Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting in Las Vegas, NV on Oct. 1, 2017
Edie Wood, survivor of the Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting in Las Vegas, NV on Oct. 1, 2017