DETROIT – In the shadow of the deadly mass shooting in Orlando, the Motor City Pride Parade carried on. Amid the festivities was heartfelt grief.
"I woke up this morning and first thing I thought was, '(I) hope it's a random mass shooting,' which is sad, but I knew the other possibility was targeted for gay community," Stephanie White, the executive director for Equality Michigan, said.
READ: 50 dead in Florida nightclub shooting, worst in US history
This year's Motor City Pride Parade theme was "Uniting for Equality," a message all the more poignant just hours after the terrorist attack that left at least 50 people dead and 53 others hospitalized.
"I think there's so much hatred out there," said one paradegoer. "Start with home, neighbor, block by block. I really feel like people need to start respecting each other. Life is a gift. No one deserves to die for no reason, especially when you're trying to have a good time and celebrate pride."
Detroit Police Chief James Craig, who was at the parade, said more officers were deployed following the terrorist attack.
"I do want to say this: There are no specific threats to this region or to the city of Detroit," Craig said. "I want to make that point clear. I have had conversations with the local supervisory FBI agent in charge, David Gelios. We are talking regularly. But again, there are no specific threats to the city of Detroit or this region."
Many attending the parade wrote messages of hope and support -- a sign of solidarity following the country's deadliest mass shooting.
"Day in, day out, we feel good about marriage equality, but this reminds us we have a long way to go," another parade goer said. "I don't feel like America is moving forward the way we think we are, and this really grounds us."
“Last night’s terrorist attack on a gay club in Orlando Florida, killing 50 and injuring scores, is a chilling reminder of how vulnerable our community is to hatred and violence, and how much more is left to do to protect our community,” Equality Michigan said in a release.
Authorities in Santa Monica found possible explosives, assault rifles and ammunition during a traffic stop and the driver told them he was in town for the LA Pride festival in West Hollywood, according to the NBC News.
The man was arrested hours after the massacre in Orlando.
"Motor City Pride is a celebration of the strength and diversity of Michigan's lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community that is second to none," said Equality Michigan Board Chair Dave Wait. "It is the largest such gathering of our community in the state, run by volunteers, and represents a unique opportunity to come together to mark our accomplishments and rededicate ourselves to the work left to do."
