Olga Disla’s 25-year-old son Anthony Luis Laureano Disla died at Orlando’s Pulse nightclub after suffering multiple gunshot wounds. Disla said she has now spent each Mother’s Day over the past seven years in pain and she just tries to think about how enthusiastic and positive her son was.
“He had such a joy for life and loved dancing, so he died dancing, and that brings me some comfort,” Disla said in Spanish at a news conference in Orlando on Sunday. “Like any mother who has lost a child will tell you, I feel pain every day, but I have learned how to deal with it and now just think about how wonderful of a son he was.”
Disla said this Mother’s Day was different because she wanted to let her voice be heard and share her frustration over what she called the lack of support for survivors or the victims’ families.
Mothers of the victims of the mass shooting came to Orlando to talk about how the onePULSE foundation’s property deal fell apart, leaving the proposed memorial at the Orange Avenue nightclub up in the air. They also called for an investigation into the onePULSE Foundation.
The foundation announced on May 2 it had failed to close a deal with the property owners of the land of the former Pulse nightclub where the foundation wanted to build a memorial.
The nonprofit, which was established in 2016 after the Pulse tragedy that killed 49 people and injured 53 others, said plans to build a memorial are still in the works, but it will have to find a new site.
The announcement follows the nightclub’s property owners blaming each other for the deal to build the $45 million memorial falling apart. Barbara Poma, a founder and former executive director of the onePULSE Foundation pointed the finger at fellow property owner, Michael Panaggio, for not donating his share of the property.
Poma left as executive director of the nonprofit in February 2022 to a new role to focus on raising more money and left the nonprofit entirely in April.
Survivors and mothers of victims spoke about the disappointment and anger they felt over the lack of progress for a memorial and the continuing struggle of survivors who need support.
“My son is gone, and nothing I can do or anyone can do will bring him back, but there are many people who still need surgeries and therapy,” Disla said. “The nonprofit has done nothing for the survivors.”
Jorshua Hernandez, who was shot in his left arm, survived three hours of bleeding on the floor of the club’s bathroom and now lives with a large scar down his entire stomach and a metal rod with nine screws.
Hernandez said the memorial already exists at the site of the tragedy and more money doesn’t need to be spent putting another one anywhere else. Instead, he said the money should be used to help those who survived.
“It was important for me to be here today because I don’t think Barbra should be making money off a tragedy, and it’s been seven years since it happened, and we don’t have support for survivors to show for all the donations,” Hernandez said in Spanish. “The memorial is already there, so just leave it there and use the money to help us.”
In a statement through spokesperson Sara Brady, Poma said the decisions she has made related to onePULSE Foundation have been difficult and personal.
“Since that tragic night at Pulse Nightclub my time has been focused on remembering and honoring the 49 angels whose lives were taken and their surviving families as they navigate unimaginable grief,” the statement said. “It has been an uncharted path for everyone. Out of respect to those impacted by this tragedy, I have never responded to the handful of individuals who continue to spread a myriad of untruths about my husband and me, falsely blaming us for what was an unforeseeable terrorist attack. While I recognize and respect these individuals’ grief, that should not serve as a free pass for intentionally spreading lies about us. It is hurtful, undeserved and helps no one.”
OnePULSE Foundation spokesperson Scott Bowman said the foundation is not a direct service provider.
“The onePULSE Foundation respects the solemnity of today for those who have lost loved ones. However, the claims made today about the Foundation are untrue and misinformed. The onePULSE Foundation publishes its audited financial statements and 990 on its website, a practice it has adhered to every year since its inception,” the statement said.
Correction: An earlier version of this story mischaracterized the onePULSE Foundation. The organization is not a direct service provider.
