Omar Mir Seddique Mateen, 29, killed 50 people and wounded another 53 at a gay nightclub in Orlando early Saturday in what is being called the worst mass shooting slaughter in the last 34 years.

In a call to 9-1-1 shortly before the rampage, the gunman swore allegiance to the Islamic State. But if his intention was to strike fear into the hearts of the gay community, the would be terrorist failed.

“We will continue to dance,” Easton activist Earl Ball said during a vigil attended by close to 70 people June 12 at Easton’s Centre Square, as darkness began to fall. “We’re going to continue to dance and live our lives freely.”

Ball and his husband, Timothy Hare, were supposed to visit New York City June 12 to celebrate Hare’s birthday. They decided instead to organize a Centre Square remembrance.

“Without speeches or microphones, we’ll stand together in compassionate silence. Simply put, there are no words,” he explained.

Ball and Hare said they called for this vigil because they needed the community support and they got it.

“It’s our 9/11,” Hare said.

One gay young man, accompanied by his father, was until recently a resident of the Orlando area. He was a visitor at Pulse, the popular gay nightclub where the attack occurred.

He is still waiting to hear from some of his friends in the Orlando community.

Mateen used an AR-15, which does look very much like the M-16 used by the U.S. military and has become the mass shooter’s weapon of choice, according to The Washington Post. Ball and Hare used love, and bestowed kisses and hugs on their friends. Hare and Ball were gratified by the warm response from the Easton community.

Across the street, watching the vigil from a safe distance with their arms crossed, were five Easton police officers. Their numbers grew to seven at one point.