Pulse Nightclub. (Photo by Ebyabe from Wikimedia)
ORLANDO | Survivors and family members of those who lost their lives at Pulse Nightclub met in Orlando on May 14.
The event came together just weeks following the announcement that a memorial would no longer be built at the Pulse Nightclub location.
It also follows news from last month that an owner of the Pulse Nightclub and founder of the onePULSE Foundation, Barbara Poma, would no longer lead the foundation.
Christine Leinonen, the mother of victim Christopher Leinonen, voiced her frustrations in a press release from Victims First.
“We have had enough with Barbara Poma, the OnePULSE Foundation, and the City of Orlando.”
Leinonen also told WESH 2, “We are the Pulse tragedy. The 49 families and the 53 serious gunshot survivors. We should own onePULSE and control it ’cause we could do the same thing they’ve been doing. But we would take care of each other.”
“This tragedy turned into a profit,” commented survivor Tiara Parker to WESH 2. “I became someone’s meal ticket and I’m not receiving any part of that meal.”
Parker, who also lost her cousin Akyra, shared the same sentiment as Leinonen.
“Why not take the money that you just made from us and help us,” Parker said. “Help support us through this tragedy.”
In their press release, Victims First stated, “This private nonprofit lied to them throughout its seven-year history. It lied repeatedly about financially helping the victims. The private nonprofit changed its mission statement not once, but twice, to eliminate financial assistance for victims. OnePULSE, infact, has been sending survivors to other nonprofits that no longer exist and do not provide financial assistance.”
Both Parker and Leinonen have also made statements regarding the police response during the June 12th shooting and illegal renovations that hindered escape routes inside the Pulse Nightclub.
Leinonen stated with Victims First, “We are loudly demanding a federal criminal investigation of the unpermitted renovations and code violations at the Pulse Nightclub that hindered the escape and rescue of our family members.”
Victims First followed up that statement with, “Victims were told that the OnePULSE Foundation knew about the code violations and illegal renovations after Board members questioned Barbara Poma in a meeting about what was revealed on the Community Coalition Against a Pulse Museum (CCAPM) website. Victims were told by a former staff member that Poma admitted it was all true during that meeting. Despite that, the OnePULSE Foundation continued to fundraise and exploit the victims.”
Poma shared statements with WESH 2 regarding the claims made about them.
“Since that tragic night at Pulse Nightclub my time has been focused on remembering and honoring the 49 angels whose lives were taken and their surviving families as they navigate unimaginable grief,” Poma said in a statement. “It has been an uncharted path for everyone. Out of respect to those impacted by this tragedy, I have never responded to the handful of individuals who continue to spread a myriad of untruths about my husband and me, falsely blaming us for what was an unforeseeable terrorist attack. These individuals continue to speak untruthfully about us, and as always, without any knowledge or facts. The decisions we have made related to the onePULSE Foundation have been difficult and personal. While I recognize and respect these individuals’ grief, that should not serve as a free pass for intentionally spreading lies about us. It is hurtful, undeserved and helps no one.”
The onePULSE Foundation responded to Watermark with the statement:
“The onePULSE Foundation respects the solemnity of today for those who have lost loved ones. However, the claims made today about the Foundation are untrue and misinformed. The onePULSE Foundation publishes its audited financial statements and 990 on its website, a practice it has adhered to every year since its inception.
Furthermore, the Foundation is proud to carry a Gold Seal rating in Guidestar, a rating that less than five percent of nonprofits registered with the agency hold. Guidestar evaluates the financial transparency and accountability of nonprofits worldwide.”
