Denver Pride coordinators have not received any threats to this year’s festival, but with the terror attack at a gay nightclub in Orlando fresh on everyone’s minds, security is a big concern.
“This big black box is sort of where our country kind of is right now,” said artist Lonnie Hanzon.
It’s a memorial for the 49 innocent people killed in an Orlando nightclub and it now sits at the center of Civic Center Park.
“We talked Tuesday night, and we saw the list of the names we were like we’ve got to do something,” said Hanzon.
Artist Lonnie Hanzon created the memorial in hopes of honoring the victims and also healing the pain many across Colorado are feeling.
More than a quarter of a million people are expected in Civic Center Park for PrideFest and they will have a chance to sign the memorial.
“The idea that instead of being angry and hateful we’re giving people color and asking them to bring their light to this darkness with messages of love,” said Hanzon.
Hanzon believes the best way to honor the victims is to stand up to terror.
“We’re all being vigilant. We’re all doing the right things. But we’re not struck with terror. And we’re not going to do that. We’re going to refuse to do that, and we’re going to stand,” said Hanzon.