Orlando’s gay Pulse nightclub to reopen in new location after massacre
The owner of Orlando’s Pulse nightclub is seeking a new location to reopen.
In June last year, a gunman opened inside the Pulse gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida.
49 people lost their lives in the attack, making it one of the deadliest mass shootings on US soil in recent history. Many of the victims were LGBT and members of the Latino community.
911 recordings later revealed that the gunman had pledged allegiance to the Islamist terrorist group known as ISIS.
The nightclub permanently closed in the wake of the attack. The nightclub’s owner Barbara Poma rejected a bid from the city to buy the club and turn it into a public memorial, but plans to open her own memorial on the site.
It was revealed this week that the nightclub itself may open in a new location under a new name.
Speaking to WFTV, Ms Poma said she was seeking for a second site in the city to open the new Pulse, to “make sure hate doesn’t win”.
She said she had been financially crippled by the loss of the club’s income, but added: “Pulse is going to reopen [in a new location].
“By reopening it, same name, same format that we had, it just proves, you know, that hate will not wom. We will not let him win.”
Pulse survivor Orlando Torres added: “It’s something to start new memories, as we’ve created many memories here at the old Pulse.”
Ms Poma added that discussions were ongoing about the future of the original Pulse site.
She said: “It will be something other than a nightclub. Whatever structure, space, my hope for it, is eternity.”
The city of Orlando recently marked the first anniversary of the attack.
One year on, the local community marked the event with a Day of Love and Kindness, with events held across Orlando to remember those who perished in the attack.
Orlando Mayor Bobby Dyer said at the time: “June 12 was the darkest day in our City’s history and a day that will forever be reserved to honour the memory of the 49 innocent lives taken from us too soon.
“This tragedy has deeply impacted our LGBTQ+, Latinx, other communities of colour and our entire City.
“Since the morning of June 12, 2016, we have come together to honor the victims, support their families and the survivors and thank our first responders in so many ways.
He added: “Following the Pulse tragedy, we showed the world that Orlando would not be defined by the act of a hate-filled killer, but instead defined by our response of love, compassion and unity.”
“I am so proud that we are Orlando United.”