ORLANDO, Fla. — The ninth annual CommUNITY Rainbow Run in Orlando honored the survivors, victims, and their families killed during the 2016 mass shooting at Pulse nightclub.
The run was hosted by the city of Orlando. It is 4.9 kilometers long, honoring the 49 lives lost on June 12, 2016.
1,500 runners participated this year, including 50 survivors and family members. Runners headed south on Orange Avenue to the Pulse site on Esther Street before turning around and reaching the finish line at City Hall.
“It is very emotional even to this day just passing by Pulse and there’s been times that I’ve gone to the memorial. You can feel the heaviness that’s there,” said runner Merritt Martin.
Martin says this is his first race, and he wanted to support the Orlando United Pulse Memorial. All proceeds from the event will go towards construction of a permanent memorial at Pulse.
“I felt it was really important to come out and support, show my pride, and just be a part of something bigger than myself,” said Martin.
Orlando Commissioner Patty Sheehan describes this time of year as bittersweet.
“In the aftermath of Pulse, this community came together in a way to love, to support the victims, to support the families, and this is just a continuum of that care,” said Sheehan.
However, this year’s event also draws in criticism from survivors and their families.
Jorshua Hernandez-Carrión says he was shot twice that night. He tells Spectrum News this is the second year he’s asked the city to cancel the run.
“Next year, don’t do it. Just do the memorial please, please,” he says. “That’s the only thing we’re asking, that’s all.”
Hernandez-Carrión created an online petition boycotting the run, saying he feels events like this one are exploiting the tragedy.
“I want to finish this chapter of my life. I want to keep going on with my life. I don’t want to be down no more because I’m still young, but it still affects me,” he said.
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer says next steps for the permanent memorial are looking for a contractor and plan to have it completed by summer 2027.