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Brown Orders Flags To Half-Staff To Honor Victims Of Georgia Shootings

Juliette Kober
/
Pixabay

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown has ordered flags at public institutions to be lowered to half-staff to honor the victims of this week’s mass shootings in Georgia.

  

Most of the eight people who were killed were Asian-American women. It’s the most visible and deadly example in a reported nationwide rise in anti-Asian violence.

  

 

In a statement, Brown called the attacks “absolutely unacceptable.”

 

"To the Asian community in Oregon: I feel your pain and I stand with you," said Brown, a Democrat. "I remain committed to doing the hard work to build a more equitable and just Oregon.”

 

Oregon lawmakers are also speaking out. Sen. Deb Patterson, D-Salem, spoke on the Senate floor Thursday. 

“On this day, in this place, I speak out because we have fellow legislators, state employees and constituents of Asian descent, Black communities, Indigenous tribes, and various other diverse communities of color who daily live with this fear,” said Patterson, who made her remarks during a time when lawmakers can make short speeches on topics of their choosing.

"We in this chamber have the power and the responsibility to speak out against, and to work to address, racism, sexism and violence in our land," she said.

The governor's order for flags to be lowered is in effect until sunset on March 22. Nationally, President Joe Biden issued a similar order for federal institutions.

 

Chris Lehman has been reporting on Oregon issues since 2006. He joined the KLCC news department in December 2018 and became News Director in March 2023. Chris was born and raised in Pennsylvania, and graduated from Temple University with a degree in journalism. His public broadcasting career includes stops in Louisiana and Illinois. Chris has filed for national programs including “Morning Edition” and “All Things Considered.”
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