Updated at 10:33 p.m.

Wax dripped from candles and hardened in little piles Thursday night on Mississippi Avenue, as vigil speakers offered messages of community, grief, pride and solidarity.

An organizer estimated 1,000 or more people gathered outside the Q Center in North Portland, at the corner of Mississippi Avenue and Mason Street, to mourn those who lost their lives when a gunman opened fire inside a gay nightclub in Orlando.

The vigil began with a solemn recitation of the names of the 49 people who died. And the dense crowd later buzzed during moments of enthusiastic chanting -- prompted by speakers who included religious, ethnic and LGBTQ leaders, as well as Portland Commissioner Amanda Fritz.

Vigil attendees held candles, signs and each other. Some waved flags or raised cameras.

The event came amid an outpouring of support for the victims of the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history. Fifty-three others were wounded in the early morning attack Sunday inside the Pulse nightclub before police killed the gunman.

The Q Center, which held healing sessions on Monday, hosted the vigil with Pride Northwest. The center also held a blood drive before the vigil and has another drive scheduled for Wednesday.

-- Jim Ryan

jryan@oregonian.com

503-221-8005; @Jimryan015