Political Quotes

“I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I thank you and him for making this important memorial possible for us today. I rise to solemnly join my colleagues to honor the 49 beautiful souls murdered 4 years ago in an unfathomable act of hatred and bloodshed at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando. I thank Congressman Darren Soto for giving us this opportunity of observing and for being a voice for peace and healing for all of those affected. Pulse was a peaceful haven where young LGBTQ Americans could enjoy music, dancing, and celebration, knowing they were in a sanctuary of safety and solidarity. Pulse was a monument to joy, a tribute to resilience and pride born out of the grief that Barbara Poma experienced after losing her brother, John, to AIDS. That was her motivation for starting that. May the grief that we experience now at the loss of 49 who were murdered move us to turn our pain into purpose. This poster is all of them. But some time after the terrible tragedy, we stood on the steps of the Capitol, holding their individual pictures. At that time, we said: We will never forget. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to keep that promise to turn pain into purpose. Shortly after the horrific act of hatred at Pulse, I had the solemn privilege of traveling to Orlando and meeting with survivors and families who had lost loved ones. Their message to the Congress, to a person that I met with there, was: Please, do something to stop gun violence.…”