Thousands of people gathered at Pier 26 in Manhattan for a LGBT pride rally in light of the Orlando nightclub shooting, where a gunman shot and killed 49 people.

The owner of Pulse nightclub, Barbara Poma, addressed members of the community while video screens displayed the names and pictures of those who died in the shooting.

"It is time to dedicate our emotions and our intellectual capacity to love others with tenderness. I'm here today because I want you to know that Orlando and the world's gay community are strong and united. We will not allow evil to prevail," Poma said.

The event was a kickoff to the city's annual gay pride weekend. It was held just hours after President Obama declared the Stonewall Inn the country's first national gay-rights monument.