Last June, Stonewall was the site of a celebration for the Supreme Court’s ruling in favor of nationwide gay marriage. (Photo: Talya Galasko)

Last June, Stonewall was the site of a celebration for the Supreme Court’s ruling in favor of nationwide gay marriage. (Photo: Talya Galasko)

There will be a formal vigil tonight at 7 p.m. at the Stonewall Inn for the victims of yesterday’s mass shooting in Orlando at the gay nightclub Pulse. Speakers including governor Andrew Cuomo and mayor Bill De Blasio as well as leaders and activists from the LGBTQ community will address mourners and “call on Congress to stop standing in the way of reasonable gun control laws.”

At least 50 people were killed and 53 wounded in yesterday’s attack, making it the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history. The gunman, who shot his way into the nightclub around 2 a.m. Sunday morning and killed dozens before taking several clubgoers hostage, reportedly claimed allegiance to ISIS before committing the attack and was motivated by radical homophobia. At least one New York City resident, Brooklyn’s Enrique Rios, who was visiting Orlando for a friend’s birthday, was among those killed during the shooting.

Last night, an impromptu vigil drew hundreds of people to the West Village bar, which was landmarked last year as the place that kickstarted the gay rights movement in 1969. People who gathered at the iconic bar– no stranger to such gatherings — held signs and flags to demonstrate their solidarity with the LGBT community and pay their respects to those who died. Mourners also laid 50 roses in front of the bar, to symbolize the 50 people killed in the attack.

Meanwhile, local LGBT establishments tweeted thoughts about the tragedy.

For the vigil tonight, organizers are encouraging attendees to bring LED candles and signs with #WeAreOrlando to show their support. More information can be found on the event’s Facebook page, here. 

At the Stonewall Inn vigil. #Orlando

A photo posted by Christine Champagne (@iamchristinechampagne) on