This happened last weekend in Philadelphia.

PHILADELPHIA, PA — Well over 125 multi-generational people turned out on mere days notice on Thanksgiving Saturday at Clark Park in West Philadelphia for a vigil and rememberance for the victims of the Club Q massacre that occurred on Trans Remembrance Day in Colorado Springs, CO.  Five died and seventeen casualties occurred by way of unlawful firearm use. A related 17 were injured and/or victims but not through firearms. The accused shooter, Anderson Lee Aldrich, who is also remarked on as a bomb maker whose court case was sealed is being held without bail. 

As the event’s announced time arrived, attendance rapidly multiplied. Candles were lit, flowers were brought and distributed, and flags and signs were paraded. The public address system crackled with an announcer in a hushed and somber voice. There was an introduction and then anonymous open mic speakers who provided their voice on the matter.

The first speaker remarked “it brought so much pain” and read a list of the victims.

Another speaker brought forth the observation that it’s a “small segment” bringing forth harm and that “they’re the groomers.” Hate group listed Family Research Institute and Focus on the Family (FOTF), a “church” group with an international reach that is headquartered in Colorado Springs, could be considered part of this segment given its strident anti-LGBTQIA promotions and policies.  FOTF was spray painted soon after the massacre with a message that assigned them adverse influence and responsibility.

Back in West Philadelphia, the assembled concluded event speaking and engaged for a silent march that went around Clark Park counter-clockwise. That would be an unsurprising metaphor that things have gone into reverse. 

Event security was notable. This isn’t a remark on the Philadelphia police Civil Affairs Unit, but rather, various non-state actors organized in community defense action, including but not limited to, physical defense of others and themselves. Like other liberation forebears, they know what time it is. https://theintercept.com/2022/11/29/club-q-lgbtq-armed-self-defense/

The vigil and rememberance concluded without issue. However, on November 30, 2022, the Department of Homeland Security issued a highly related National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) bulletin https://www.dhs.gov/news/2022/11/30/dhs-issues-national-terrorism-advisory-system-ntas-bulletin on “Threat Actors”  that can bring harm to various communities here now and well into the foreseeable future. 

The NTAS item notes in part that: “Targets of potential violence include public gatherings, faith based institutions, the LGBTQIA+ community, schools, racial and religious minorities, government facilities and personnel, U.S. critical infrastructure, the media, and perceived ideological opponents.” https://www.hstoday.us/featured/ntas-praise-for-recent-attacks-holiday-gatherings-capitol-attack-anniversary-feed-dynamic-and-complex-threat-environment/

The next Club Q vigil in the Philadelphia area was to be Sunday, December 4th at the court house in Media, PA. The start time is 5 p.m.