Over a hundred people gathered on Penn State University Park’s campus last night to memorialize the victims of the recent mass shooting. It was named “Stand in Solidarity With Orlando,” and it also served to show support for the LGBTQA community.
Ben Wideman, a campus pastor at the 3rd Way Collective, was one of several religious leaders who spoke at the event. He said, “I think it was beautiful to watch, the way that people came together regardless of their religious background. We had people speaking from all kinds of religions, but the time was opened by two students from the Muslim tradition, speaking and rejecting the violence from their religious conviction.”
Numerous Penn State administrators and staff, including executive vice president and provost Nick Jones, expressed sympathy and solidarity with the LGBTQA community. The names of all identified victims were also read, in addition to a moment of silence.