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Local Jewish Community Organizes Event Honoring Orlando Victims

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- The tragedy is still unimaginable. The images still stunning.

People across the country continue to come to grips with what happened at Pulse nightclub in Orlando.

49 people killed, many others wounded at the hands of 29-year-old Omar Mateen, a man who pledged his allegiance to ISIS.

"We want to prevent gun violence while still supporting the second amendment and we also want to separate Islam from radical Islam, given the shooters claims, his ties to ISIS," said Joshua Sayles with the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh.

Those were two of the topics discussed at an event Thursday night in Squirrel Hill.

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The gathering of solidarity was organized by theJewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh. Jewish, Muslim, and Christian faith leaders all took part sharing messages of hope and love.

Members of the LGBT community were also there.

"The LGBT community is not just some other community, they are part of the Jewish community and also a part of all of the other communities in and around Pittsburgh and an integral part of those communities," Sayles said.

Various religious groups based in Pittsburgh have held similar events with the local LGBT community.

Many say its that unity that will help prevent the next tragedy.

"We stand in solidarity with the LGBT community after this tragedy in Orlando," Sayles said.

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