Advisory: Please note that this post is about the Pulse Nightclub Massacre on June 12, 2016. It contains sensitive and difficult to read content. Post written with narrator’s consent.
On March31, 2017 Pam Schwartz of the Orange County Regional History Center conducted an oral history with Myra Alvear the mother of Amanda Alvear who was one of the 49 victims of the Pulse Nightclub shooting that happened on June 12, 2016. With Myra was Antonio Alvear, who is Amanda’s older brother.
Amanda had two jobs and went to college. She was pursuing a nursing career. She wanted to become a midwife. She was very outgoing and always available for friends and family. She had a perfect mix of being comforting but firm. She had hundreds of followers inn Instagram where she shared her workouts. She inspired people to loose weight.
Amanda loved going to Pulse to met friends. It was a safe place for her.
On June 12, Amanda watched Brian’s two daughters for the day and when they went to sleep at her mom’s she knew she could go out with friends. Amanda’s father, Daniel Alvear, was the first to hear the news at 7:30AM when Nancy called and said that there had been a shooting at Pulse. He turned on the TV news and called Brian. Daniel looked at his wife asleep and didn’t want to wake her up. She had already lost a child to cancer, how could he tell her. He didn’t want to deliver this bomb. Brian was in denial hoping she was with friends. News stations were already starting to call. Brian was using social media in the hopes of finding his sister. Amanda’s phone must have had 8000 text messages. She was not responding.
Myra and Daniel went to try and get news about Amanda. They ere sent to a hotel which was a nightmare in itself. Maybe Amanda was at the hospital and unconscious. Her name wasn’t showing up. When Myra and Daniel got back home, Myra just went to Amanda’s room and lay down. The people that were not on the list of verified or taken to the hospital, were likely still inside the club. There was a bomb scare as well. They couldn’t get everybody out.
Amanda wouldn’t hide, she would have to get all her friends out. She was a fighter like her mom.
Myra became an activist after loosing Amanda. She wants to help others. She founded Hugs Not Hate. The family had a chance to no only grieve, but fight for something. At a vigil for Amanda and Mercedez Marisol Flores, Myra spoke and then hugged everybody that was there. At Amanda’s funeral she also hugged everybody. Myra needed to find out how the other families were doing and she also found those who had been injured. Every day should would try to find out who was at the hospital. She needed to reach out. Everyone was grieving in their own way. She wants the legacy to be of love, not hate.