The New York governor has pledged up to $1 million for the creation of a monument to Pulse nightclub victims.
New York's governor has pledged up to $1 million for the creation of a New York City monument to Pulse nightclub victims.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Sunday morning plans for an LGBT Memorial Commission before the start of New York's annual gay pride march down Fifth Avenue in Manhattan.
“We want this terrible event remembered and we want the lesson learned so it never happens again,” Cuomo said.
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According to the Associated Press, the 10-member commission will come up with recommendations on the design of the memorial and the specific location by year's end.
Today we’re appointing a commission to build a monument in honor of the victims of Orlando and hate crimes everywhere.
— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) June 26, 2016
Cuomo's announcement came after the annual march kicked off with a moment of silence dedicated to those killed in Pulse nightclub, a gay Orlando hotspot, on June 12.
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Forty-nine people were killed in the nightclub when police say Omar Mateen stormed inside with a semi-automatic weapon.
A beautiful day to celebrate #Pride2016 and honor the LGBT community worldwide. pic.twitter.com/2eeqcdSEJR
— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) June 26, 2016
The siege, which authorities have deemed an act of terror, lasted three hours and left dozens injured as well as an indelible mark upon the LGBT community in Orlando and beyond.
The attack ended when police fatally shot Mateen. It has been called the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history.
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