Orlando: Scores dead in gay nightclub shooting

Orlando: Scores dead in gay nightclub shooting

President Obama calls attack on gay nightclub in Orlando "an act of terror and an act of hate".

 

Orlando shooting

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/06/florida-shooting-attack-orlando-nightclub-160612080037582.html

Fifty people have been killed, including the assailant, and at least 53 injured in an attack inside a gay nightclub in the US state of Florida, authorities said, in the worst mass shooting in US history. 

Authorities identified the shooter on Sunday as Omar Mateen, a 29-year-old man born in New York with Afghan origins.

Mateen, who was armed with an assault-type rifle and a handgun, was killed in a shootout with at least 11 police officers inside the Pulse nightclub in Orlando. 

Ron Hopper, special FBI agent in charge of the Orlando office, confirmed that Mateen was interviewed twice by the agency in 2013, after he made "inflammatory comments" to co-workers alleging possible "terrorist ties".

In 2014, authorities interrogated Mateen anew for possible ties to an American suicide bomber.

In both cases, the FBI closed the investigations as they turned out to be "inconclusive" at that time, Hopper said.   

Hopper also confirmed media reports that Mateen made 911 calls to police early on Sunday, and referred to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL also known as ISIS) group.

'Act of terror and hate'

In a televised statement, President Barack Obama condemned the shooting as "an act of terror and an act of hate", calling the shooter "a person filled with hatred".

"As Americans, we are united in grief and outrage," he said, adding that the attack is "a further reminder of how easy it is for someone to get their hands on a weapon" and commit violence in the US.

Orlando Police chief John Mina described the shooting as "one of the worst tragedies we have seen", adding that police officers "were shaken by what they have seen inside the club".

"It's a tragedy not only for the city but the entire nation," he said. "Just a look into the eyes of our officers told the whole story."

The injured, many in critical condition, were transferred to nearby hospitals. Among those injured was one police officer, whose kevlar helmet was hit by a round from the suspect.  

The suspect exchanged gunfire with a police officer working at the club, which had more than 300 people inside. The gunman then went back inside and took hostages, Mina said.

Around 5am, authorities sent in a SWAT team to rescue the hostages.

While details of the attack were still emerging, Orlando residents gathered outside the nightclub to pay their respects to the victims.

Al Jazeera's Andy Gallacher, reporting from the scene, described a banner laid out in the streets where people dipped their hands in paint and made their mark. Across the top of the banner was written, "Today our hearts cry out in unity".

"Just metres away at the Pulse nightclub, a popular venue for the LGBT community, bodies of the victims are still lying where they fell," our correspondent said. "Many are yet to be identified."

As the shooting occurred, the nightclub urged patrons to "get out" and "keep running" in a post on its Facebook page.

One witness, who said he was inside the building during the incident, said he heard about 40 shots being fired.

Christopher Hansen said he was in the VIP lounge of the club when he heard gunshots. He continued to hear shooting even after he emerged and police urged people to back away from the club. He saw the wounded being tended to across the street.

"I was thinking, 'Are you kidding me?' So I just dropped down. I just said, 'Please, please, please, I want to make it out,'" he said. "And when I did, I saw people shot. I saw blood. You hope and pray you don't get shot."

One witness said that he heard about 40 shots being fired during the Orlando attack [EPA]

Police said they carried out a "controlled explosion" at the club hours after the shooting broke out, while entering the nightclub.

Florida Governor Rick Scott has declared a state of emergency in Orlando. 

The nightclub shooting came just a day after a man thought to be a deranged fan fatally shot Christina Grimmie, a rising singing star who gained fame on YouTube and as a contestant on The Voice, while she was signing autographs after a concert in Orlando.

Al Jazeera

Current TV is acquired by Al Jazeera, and a division of Current Media, LLC.

Note: Syrian Electronic Army reportedly hacked Al Jazeera, and the Human Rights Watch.

Bashar al-Assad is supporting the Syrian Electronic Army which is a hacker group, the president of Syria, and permitted the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL also known as the ISIS group) to rise in Syria.

Albert A. Gore Jr. was a co-founder & chairman for the Current Media, LLC, sued Al Jazeera, and is the chairman for the Climate Reality Project.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Climate Reality Project, the Center for American Progress, for the Harlem Children's Zone, the Robin Hood Foundation, the International Rescue Committee, the Human Rights Watch, the Roosevelt Institute, and the New America Foundation.

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society, a supporter for the Center for American Progress, a benefactor for the Harlem Children's Zone, a benefactor for the Human Rights Watch, a member of the Democracy Alliance, is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations, and Jonathan Soros’s father.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Center for American Progress, and the Human Rights Watch.

Carol M. Browner was a director at the Climate Reality Project, a secretary of environmental regulation for the Florida state government, the energy czar Barack Obama administration, and is a senior fellow, director for the Center for American Progress.

Center for American Progress calls for heightened “Gun Safety, Gun Control” for guns.

Cynthia G. Brown is a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, and was an assistant secretary at the U.S. Department of Education.

Kevin Jennings was an assistant deputy secretary for the U.S. Department of Education, the founder & executive director for the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, and is an executive director for the Arcus Foundation.

Arcus Foundation was a funder for the Center for American Progress, and the Human Rights Watch.

Center for American Progress calls for heightened “Gun Safety, Gun Control” for guns.

Richard L. Scott is the Florida state government governor, and was the founder & CEO for HCA Holdings Inc.

Bain Capital is an investor in HCA Holdings Inc.

Mitt Romney is a co-founder for Bain Capital, was a member of the Homeland Security Advisory Council, and the candidate for the 2008 Mitt Romney presidential campaign.

Glenda E. Hood was a member of the Homeland Security Advisory Council, a Florida steering committee member for the 2008 Mitt Romney presidential campaign, the secretary of state for the State of Florida, and an Orlando (FL) mayor.

Florida state government is the government for the State of Florida.

William H. Webster is the chair for the Homeland Security Advisory Council, was a director at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), and a director at the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Kenneth Canterbury is a member of the Homeland Security Advisory Council, and the president for the Fraternal Order of Police.

William J. Bratton is a member of the Homeland Security Advisory Council, the commissioner for the New York City Police Department, was the chief for the Los Angeles (CA) Police Department, a superintendent for the Boston Metropolitan Police, and a police commissioner for Boston (MA).

Thomas M. Menino was a Boston (MA) mayor, an advisory board member for Everytown for Gun Safety, and a co-chair for the Mayors Against Illegal Guns.

Annise Parker is a member of the Homeland Security Advisory Council, and an advisory board member for Everytown for Gun Safety.

Everytown for Gun Safety is a Gun Safety, Gun Control” group for guns.

Mayors Against Illegal Guns is a Gun Safety, Gun Control” group for guns.

Independence USA PAC is a Gun Safety, Gun Control” PAC for guns.

Americans for Responsible Solutions is a Gun Safety, Gun Control” PAC for guns.

Michael R. Bloomberg is the founder of Everytown for Gun Safety, a co-chair for Mayors Against Illegal Guns, the founder for the Independence USA PAC, the founder of the Bloomberg Family Foundation, was a contributor for the Americans for Responsible Solutions, a New York (NY) mayor, a benefactor for the Harlem Children's Zone, and a donor for the Robin Hood Foundation.

Manny Diaz is a director at the Bloomberg Family Foundation, was a member of the Homeland Security Advisory Council, and a Miami (FL) mayor.

Clifford S. Asness is a leadership council member for the Robin Hood Foundation, supported same-sex marriage in New York, and is a director at the International Rescue Committee.

Kati Marton is an overseer at the International Rescue Committee, and was a director at the Human Rights Watch.

Syrian Electronic Army reportedly hacked the Human Rights Watch, and Al Jazeera.

Bashar al-Assad is supporting the Syrian Electronic Army which is a hacker group, the president of Syria, and permitted the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL also known as the ISIS group) to rise in Syria.

Gara LaMarche was an associate director at the Human Rights Watch, a

VP & director of U.S. programs for the Open Society Foundations, a director at the White House Project, is the president of the Democracy Alliance, a director at the Open Society Policy Center, and a director at the Roosevelt Institute.

Daisy Khan was a director at the White House Project, is a developer for Park51, and an executive director for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Developer Scales Back Plans for Muslim Center Near Ground Zero (Park51)

By SHARON OTTERMANAPRIL 29, 2014

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/30/nyregion/developer-scales-back-plans-for-muslim-center-near-ground-zero.html?rref=collection%2Ftimestopic%2FPark51&action=click&contentCollection=timestopics&region=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=1&pgtype=collection&_r=0

The developer whose proposal to build a Muslim community center and mosque near the World Trade Center failed amid a national controversy three years ago said Tuesday that he now plans to construct a museum devoted to Islam in the same location.

Sharif El-Gamal, the developer, said through a spokesman that instead of a $100 million, 15-story community center and prayer space, he now planned a smaller, three-story museum “dedicated to exploring the faith of Islam and its arts and culture.” The building would also include a sanctuary for prayer services and community programs.

To make the plan more attractive to neighbors, he said in a statement, he had commissioned a French architect, Jean Nouvel, winner of the 2008 Pritzker Prize, to design the building at 45-51 Park Place, about two blocks from the former World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan, and had included plans for a public green space.

Pritzker Architecture Prize

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pritzker_Architecture_Prize

Founded in 1979 by Jay A. Pritzker and his wife Cindy, the award is funded by the Pritzker family and sponsored by the Hyatt Foundation and is considered to be one of the world's premier architecture prizes;[2] it is often referred to as the Nobel Prize of architecture.

Jay Pritzker was a co-founder for the Hyatt Hotels Corporation, and Donald Pritzker’s brother.

Donald Pritzker was Jay Pritzker’s brother, a co-founder for the Hyatt Hotels Corporation, and Penny S. Pritzker’s father.

Penny S. Pritzker is Donald Pritzker’s daughter, a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, the secretary at the U.S. Department of Commerce for the Barack Obama administration, was the national finance chair, fundraiser for the 2008 Barack Obama presidential campaign, a co-chair for the 2009 Barack Obama inaugural committee, a fundraiser, national co-chair for the 2012 Barack Obama presidential campaign, a contributor for the 2013 Barack Obama inaugural committee, the host for the Barack Obama fund-raising dinner, 7/2/2008, a director at the Hyatt Hotels Corporation, and Craig M. Robinson’s basketball coach for the children's team.

Commercial Club of Chicago, Members Directory A-Z (Past Research)

Tuesday, December 17, 2013       

http://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2013/12/commercial-club-of-chicago-members.html

Newton N. Minow is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and a senior counsel at Sidley Austin LLP.

R. Eden Martin is the president of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and counsel at Sidley Austin LLP.

Michelle Obama was a lawyer at Sidley Austin LLP, and is Craig M. Robinson’s sister.

Barack Obama was an intern at Sidley Austin LLP, the candidate for the 2008 Barack Obama presidential campaign, and a parishioner at the Trinity United Church of Christ (Chicago).

African American Religious Leadership Committee was an advisory group for the 2008 Barack Obama presidential campaign.

Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. was a member of the African American Religious Leadership Committee, and is a senior pastor for the Trinity United Church of Christ (Chicago).

Trumpeter Newsmagazine is a publication for the Trinity United Church of Christ (Chicago).

Louis Farrakhan was awarded the 2007 Jeremiah Wright Jr. Trumpeter award from the Trumpeter Newsmagazine, and is the acting head for the Nation of Islam (Muslim).

Jonathan Soros is George Soros’s son, a global board member for the Open Society Foundations, a director at the Open Society Policy Center, a senior fellow at the Roosevelt Institute, and a director at the New America Foundation.

Jeh Johnson: Gun Control Part of Homeland Security Post-Orlando

by AWR Hawkins 14 Jun 2016

http://www.breitbart.com/2nd-amendment/2016/06/14/homeland-security-sec-gun-control-part-homeland-security-post-orlando/

On June 14 Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said gun control will part of Homeland Security going forward.

He pointed to the Orlando attack carried out by a man who passed a background check, cooperated with the Florida waiting period on handguns, and possessed a Security Officer license and a Statewide Firearms License as justification for putting even more gun control in place.

Jeh Charles Johnson was a governor for the Roosevelt Institute, an assistant U.S. attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice, and is the secretary for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is a division of the U.S. Department of Justice.

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is a division of the U.S. Department of Justice.

Kati Marton is a director at the New America Foundation, an overseer at the International Rescue Committee, and was a director at the Human Rights Watch.

Clifford S. Asness is a director at the International Rescue Committee, was a leadership council member for the Robin Hood Foundation, and supported same-sex marriage in New York.

Syrian Electronic Army reportedly hacked the Human Rights Watch, and Al Jazeera.

Bashar al-Assad is supporting the Syrian Electronic Army which is a hacker group, the president of Syria, and permitted the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL also known as the ISIS group) to rise in Syria.

Syrian Electronic Army reportedly hacked the Human Rights Watch, and Al Jazeera.

Arcus Foundation was a funder for the Human Rights Watch, and the Center for American Progress.

Kevin Jennings is an executive director for the Arcus Foundation, was an assistant deputy secretary for the U.S. Department of Education, and the founder & executive director for the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network.

Center for American Progress calls for heightened “Gun Safety, Gun Control” for guns.

Carol M. Browner is a senior fellow, director for the Center for American Progress, was a secretary of environmental regulation for the Florida state government, the energy czar Barack Obama administration, and a director at the Climate Reality Project.

Albert A. Gore Jr. is the chairman for the Climate Reality Project, was a co-founder & chairman for the Current Media, LLC, and sued Al Jazeera.

Current TV is acquired by Al Jazeera, and a division of Current Media, LLC.

Syrian Electronic Army reportedly hacked Al Jazeera, and the Human Rights Watch.  

Bashar al-Assad is supporting the Syrian Electronic Army which is a hacker group, the president of Syria, and permitted the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL also known as the ISIS group) to rise in Syria.