Religious, LGBT communities gather for city-wide prayer after mass shooting

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Orlando, Fla. (AP) – Mayor Buddy Dyer said he was uplifted by the way the community has come together during a citywide prayer service for the 49 people who were killed in a nightclub shooting over the weekend.

More than a thousand people — including many clergy and local, state and national civic leaders — met Tuesday night at First Baptist Orlando to hold a vigil for the victims of the early Sunday morning shooting at the Pulse nightclub.

Dyer said to the crowd: “We will not be defined by the act of a hate-filled killer. We will be defined by our love, compassion and our unity.”

Dyer says officials are in the process of putting together an Orlando Family Assistance Center. It will open Wednesday at Camping World Stadium.

Sunday’s shooting at the gay dance club ended when police killed gunman Omar Mateen.

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