I still remember the chilling moments of 26/11 clearly. It is not too long ago in history that my city, Bombay, saw a bloodbath.
I understand it, therefore it hurts equally and in full measure. I was amazed that your country - that was bursting with joy - suddenly turned into almost a morgue. The atmosphere of happiness had assumed the face of hatred.
I learnt that Pulse, a bar in Orlando, Central Florida was attacked by a gunman called Omar Mateen. What unfolded on my television screen was the tale of mayhem and bloodshed. The Internet was replete with details of an attack in a gay bar.
It was amazing, until, I saw the TV on the night of 11 June. Thank you.įriends of the victims at a vigil. I want to thank you for giving me, and the world, this volcano of positivity that explodes love of and for every form. I saw people from all walks of life, I saw people from all faiths, I saw people of all age groups in fact, I didn’t see people alone - I saw pets march the Pride, thereby completing the family tree. I have seen happy people and well-organised events, but I have not seen people who had joy running through their veins. I saw colours and vigour unlike any before. I should add that the day I started your government’s Department of State-sponsored International Visitors Learning Programme was also the day Capital Pride was organised at Washington DC.
Right from the time I stepped into the Dulles airport where I met up with two Amercians who guided me and wished me luck when I came out to them, to the lovely, chatty Uber driver who gave me a hug and wished me happy pride, there was no doubt that I was in paradise. When I came here, I thought I was here at the most appropriate time considering that this is Pride Month.
Salman was arrested in 2017 in California, where she was staying with family, and has been jailed since then.Editor's note: In this series for Firstpost titled 'Letter to the Subalterns' noted rights activist Harish Iyer reaches out to marginalised, oppressed groups and individuals. The FBI in their hours-long questioning manipulated and coerced her, Moreno asserts. When Salman was questioned by federal agents, she co-operated, said Moreno, adding that her client never asked for a lawyer and consented to a home search. READ MORE: New body cam footage captures chaotic scenes after Orlando Nightclub shootings “And if he didn’t know, how would his wife know?” “Omar Mateen didn’t know where he was going that night,” she said. She said Mateen decided to go to Pulse at the last minute. Salman’s attorney, Linda Moreno, argued in opening statements that some of the claims are contradicted by cellphone records and other evidence. The other was Disney Springs, a crowded dining and shopping area near the famed theme parks, Mandolfo said. One was City Place, an open-air shopping centre in West Palm Beach. He described a wife who knowingly went to at least two locations with Mateen to “scout” sites of potential terrorist attacks. They also say she lied, tried to mislead FBI agents and had knowledge of her husband’s sick fascination with violent jihadist videos and terrorism. Prosecutors said Salman knew Mateen was buying ammunition for his AR-15, helped him spend thousands of dollars before the attack and knew about his plan when he left the house in the hours before the shooting. The video showed him reloading as people near him tried to crawl to safety. Mateen moved toward a bar in the back of the club, before shooting again. READ MORE: Pulse nightclub victims remembered on 1st anniversary of Orlando massacre As the gunfire began, victims began collapsing over one another, falling like dominoes atop each other.
Minutes later, Mateen was shown entering the club through the front doors. The disturbing video showed club-goers dancing and mingling prior to the attack, as Mateen’s vehicle pulled up outside the club. The Orlando Sentinel reports that Salman shielded her face from the graphic content when prosecutors showed it to the jury. The video shown in federal court included footage of Noor Salman’s husband, Omar Mateen, as he stalked the nightclub, spraying bullets.
– Jurors in the trial of the wife of the man who shot and killed 49 people inside a Florida nightclub watched graphic videos of the massacre Thursday. Send this page to someone via email email.