War Information
10 sectionsWars History in Orlando
Seminole Wars — Genocide of Indigenous People (1817–1858)
The Orlando area was the site of the Second and Third Seminole Wars. The US Army ethnically cleansed the Seminole people from their lands in central Florida. Forts like Fort Gatlin (1838) were built — now downtown Orlando. The Battle of the Wahoo Swamp in 1836 was genocidal. Over 4,000 Seminoles died in battle and from disease.
Pulse Nightclub Attack — Assault on LGBTQ+ Community (2016)
On June 12, 2016, a shooter attacked Pulse nightclub in Orlando, killing 49 and wounding 53. The target was the LGBTQ+ community. The attack is a hate crime and domestic terrorist act. The FBI investigated but the shooter's radicalization through far-right online groups was overlooked.
Drug War in Central Florida
Orlando is on the front line of America's drug war. Police target Black and Latino neighborhoods. High rates of arrest and imprisonment for minor drug offenses. A chain of systemic racism.
