As the nation attempted to come to grips with the deadliest mass shooting in its history on Sunday, displays of solidarity with the city of Orlando and the LGBT community were on full display.
Tony Awards
Perhaps the most emotional tribute came from Lin-Manuel Miranda, composer and writer of Broadway’s smash-hit musical, Hamilton. After winning the Tony for best score on Sunday evening (one of 11 wins the musical would take home), Miranda fought back tears as he read an original sonnet.
“Love is love is love is love is love is love is love is love cannot be swept aside,” the poem read in part.
Host James Corden also opened the show with a tribute to the Orlando shooting victims, telling his audience that “Hate will never win.” Frank Langella, who won best lead actor for his role in “The Father,” also used his speech to honor the shooting victims.
Stanley Cup Finals
Hours before the Pittsburgh Penguins lifted the Stanley Cup four the fourth time, fans at San Jose’s rockous SAP Arena went silent as the NHL honored the victims in Orlando.
A moment of silence for the victims and their families of the Orlando tragedy. https://t.co/9fBmdI69YP
— NHL on NBC (@NHLonNBCSports) June 13, 2016
CMA Fest
More than 55,000 fans packed Nashville’s Nissan Stadium for CMA Fest on Sunday evening, but all were silent for a moment after headliner Luke Bryan asked those in attendance to say a prayer to the victim’s families.
@LukeBryanOnline silences #CMAFest @NissanStadium #PrayersForOrlando pic.twitter.com/SE3IblST7b
— NASH FM 103.3 (@NASHFM1033) June 13, 2016
Little Big Town also dedicated their song “Miracle” to shooting victims earlier in the evening.
Silicon Valley
Tech giants Apple and Microsoft also paid tribute to the shooting victims on Monday. Prior to Apple’s WWDC developer conference on Monday, company CEO Tim Cook asked those in attendance to a moment of silence to honor the victims. Microsoft also honored the victims with a moment of silence prior to a conference call to announce its purchase of social media platform LinkedIn.
Alex Hider is a writer for the E.W. Scripps National Desk. Follow him on Twitter @alexhider.
