ORLANDO, Fla.—If a city in mourning needs a young spokesman for its healing process, it need look no further than Orlando City SC defender Tommy Redding.
Like most everyone in Central Florida, the 19-year-old has been trying to make sense of Sunday's mass shooting in Orlando.
In keeping with the team’s low-key but heartfelt response to the tragedy, Redding has been active on social media, providing moments of support and solidarity with the victims, while also offering hope for a way forward in the mourning process. Still seven months away from his 20th birthday, Redding insists he needs to be heard, and he needs to be positive, thoughtful and supportive.
"I think it’s important for me to get my word across to people," Redding said. "I’m in a position where what I say has meaning for people and I want to be able to take advantage of that as much as possible. Therefore it was important for me to get on social media and show how I’m feeling about the event and put something out there for people to empathize with.
"For instance, the blood drive was amazing and it shows you how strong we are," he said. "When events like this happen, you always look at the response of the city, and I think we’ve showed an enormous amount of pride and love. It has been amazing."
It has been awfully hard to put into words the feelings and emotions of the past few days in Orlando, where millions visit every year to enjoy the warmth, hospitality and generous spirit of Central Florida, as well as its many attractions and sports teams like Orlando City.
The theme parks remain as busy as one would expect in mid-June, while the team has to face up to business as usual, too. The Lions have two games in four days, starting with Wednesday's 1-0 victory over the Jacksonville Armada in the 2016 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, and returning to MLS action following the Copa America Centenario break with a home game Saturday at Camping World Stadium against the San Jose Earthquakes.
Yet there is no escaping the pall of last weekend’s heartbreak, and that is quickly acknowledged by City’s home-grown defensive standout.
"Yes, it’s been a tough time for me," Redding said. "But that has been the case for everyone here in Orlando and even around the world. It’s unreal. Growing up here you never think that something like this can happen. It’s a terrible tragedy, but I think the response from everyone here has been excellent. We need to show people that you fight back with love and not hate."
The team has been at the forefront of activities to help and support the victims, and they have announced that Saturday’s game will be dedicated entirely to the #OrlandoUnited community effort, with an array of special events and activities.
It is an occasion of which the players are already acutely aware, and Redding was quick to highlight their understanding of – and responsibilities for – what is likely to be a huge event.
"It’s hard to imagine what the victims’ families are going through, but the one thing we can do as a team is play for those families," said midfielder Servando Carrasco. "This is our home and this is a time to stand together. These are the moments that can make you stronger as a city. We have a great platform as athletes to make a statement and say we are stronger than this. We can channel it into something that could potentially be very good for the city, and I think we should honor the victims for the rest of the season, not just this weekend.
"I can’t imagine what it will be like [on Saturday]. It has been kind of down for the past few days, hard to process what has been going on, but the response from everyone has been tremendous. The lines for the blood donors, people bringing water to them, the character of the city; I am just so proud to be part of it."
Carrasco admitted the immediate aftermath on Sunday was the hardest time for the team, as the whole club, including the USL’s Orlando City B and the NWSL Orlando Pride came together for an informal gathering at the team’s downtown HQ, just two miles from the Pulse nightclub where the tragedy occurred.
"It was just one of those moments where you want to be surrounded by the people you care about," he explained. "It just gives you the chance to talk about it, because you are still in shock. You are trying to find reasons why these things happen, but there really are no reasons.
"Getting back to training was good. It has been very competitive and fiery as the guys are trying to express their true emotions; they are so frustrated by this but they are also saddened and hurt by it. It is our city. We are playing for this city and all the families that have been affected by it."
