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.