Members of gun control organization Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America demonstrated outside the Tony Awards at New York City’s Beacon Theatre Sunday night to demand stronger gun laws in the wake of the Orlando terror attack earlier in the day that claimed the lives of at least 50 people and injured 53 more.
According to the group’s social media posts, approximately 100 demonstrators gathered outside the theater Sunday evening, many wearing orange clothing as part of the #WearOrange gun control campaign begun earlier this month.
Moms Demand Action is part of the larger, Michael Bloomberg-founded gun control group Everytown for Gun Safety.
. @MomsDemand #WearOrange #Tonys #TonysRedCarpet #gunviolence #commonsenseguncontrol pic.twitter.com/dazL7WvbLp
— Jason Odell Williams (@JOWinNYC) June 12, 2016
Wearing orange for #Orlando outside the #tonyawards. Thoughts, prayers & ACTION. @MomsDemand @Everytown @Lin_Manuel pic.twitter.com/K80EetQqUw
— JLPess (@jlpessnyc) June 12, 2016
“We will never again be silent after a mass shooting in America,” the group wrote in a message on its Facebook page. “Which is why, just hours after the worst mass shooting in our nation’s history, Moms Demand Action organized to show our support for Orlando and to demand stronger gun laws outside the #TonyAwards.”
Moms preparing to gather outside the #TonyAwards to #WearOrange in honor of those killed in #Orlando #EndGunViolence pic.twitter.com/jwCYcTf6Pn
— Moms Demand Action (@MomsDemand) June 12, 2016
More than 100 @MomsDemand members at #TonyAwards now to #WearOrange and demand action on gun violence #Orlando pic.twitter.com/lYCZOXiV8J
— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) June 12, 2016
Inside the ceremony, a number of Broadway’s biggest stars paid tribute to the victims of the Orlando terror attack, which occurred earlier Sunday morning when a gunman opened fire at the gay nightclub Pulse, killing at least 50 and wounding at least 53.
“Your tragedy is our tragedy,” host James Corden said in a brief message to open the show. “Theater is a place where every race, creed, sexuality and gender is equal, is embraced and is loved. Hate will never win. Together, we have to make sure of that. Tonight’s show stands as a symbol and celebration of that principle.”
Hamilton star Lin-Manuel Miranda and The Father star Frank Langella also spoke about Sunday’s attack, with the former delivering a sonnet dedicated to the victims in place of a traditional acceptance speech.
Attendees at Sunday’s night’s show also wore translucent ribbons designed by six-time Tony-winning costume designer William Ivey Long in tribute to the terror victims.
Follow Daniel Nussbaum on Twitter: @dznussbaum
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