Harford County residents joined people across the country and world in voicing their sympathy for Orlando's mass shooting and showing solidarity with the victims' families and friends.
Majid Al-Falaah, a leader in the Harford Muslim community in Abingdon, was among the first to publicly express condolences for 49 people reported dead and 53 injured in Sunday's early-morning shooting at Pulse, an Orlando gay nightclub. It is the worst mass shooting in U.S. history.
The gunman, identified as Omar Mateen, reportedly pledged allegiance to Islamic State before the shooting.
Rehan Khan, the Harford mosque president, said in a statement sent Sunday afternoon that Florida Muslims are urged to donate blood and "are standing shoulder to shoulder with the local community offering any help that they might need."
Muslims are observing the holy month of Ramadan, which, Khan noted, means the shooter's actions are particularly contradictory to any ties to Islam.
"While fasting [for Ramadan], Muslims are ordered to abstain from food and all worldly pleasures. They are not supposed to even get into any arguments or petty fights. They are not supposed to hurt anyone's feelings through harsh words," Khan wrote in the press release. "Anyone perpetrating the acts of violence is not following the tenets of Islam. They are doing it to promote their own political agenda and to gain the support of more than 1.6 billion Muslims in the world."
He urged the media to be responsible and avoid "alienating millions of law abiding Muslim American citizens who are an asset for the local law enforcement agencies," adding that "senseless acts of violence by coming together as one community not by creating divisions."
Cities, churches grieve
The City of Havre de Grace displayed its solidarity with the victims and LGBT communities by lighting its downtown streets in rainbow colors, according to photos posted on social media Sunday.
Havre de Grace Mayor Bill Martin issued a statement: "Tonight the City of Havre de Grace mourns the loss of American lives to a senseless act of terror. We stand in solidarity with our nation, as we resolve to abolish hate, to stand firm against terror, and to embrace freedom and liberty without fear. Our thoughts and prayers are with those affected by the recent events in Orlando, Florida."
Aberdeen's Grove Presbyterian Church, on East Bel Air Avenue, announced a prayer service for 7 p.m. Monday in response to both the Orlando shootings and a fatal double shooting that occurred not far from the church early Monday. Aberdeen Police are continuing to investigate the double homicide; they have not released the victims' names.
"Let us combine our hearts to address the violence which is destroying our communities. We hope this will be an ecumenical and interfaith service," the church posted on social media.
Aberdeen Mayor Patrick McGrady shared the announcement, adding, on Facebook: "We live in scary times. The Lord offers peace to those who will accept it."
The Harford County Sheriff's Office and Harford County government also joined others in expressing condolences.
"Acts of terrorism will not break the spirit of our great nation," the Sheriff's Office posted on social media, while county government posted: "Harford hearts are with Orlando."