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Flags at half mast for San Jose shooting victims

Flags at half staff in front of EOB
reporters@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — In a memorandum issued yesterday, Gov. Lemanu Peleti Palepoi Sialega Mauga ordered the United States flag to be flown at half-staff until sunset, May 30th, “as a mark of respect for the victims of the senseless acts of violence perpetrated” on May 26th in San Jose, California.

“As we reflect on the loss of life and the impact on the affected survivors, let us take a moment to be grateful for the Lord’s continued protection and blessings on our Territory,” the governor said.

Lemanu’s order, is pursuant to a proclamation on May 26th by US President Joe Biden, who said in a separate statement that he has the “solemn duty of yet again, ordering the flag to be lowered at half-staff, just weeks after doing so following the mass shootings” at spas in and around Atlanta; in a grocery store in Boulder, Colorado; at a home in Rock Hill, South Carolina; and at a FedEx facility in Indianapolis, Indiana.

“Enough,” he declared and once again, urged Congress to take immediate action and heed the call of the American people, including the vast majority of gun owners, to help end this epidemic of gun violence in America.”

National news outlets report that 8-people including the gunman who killed himself, were killed at the light rail facility for the Valley Transportation Authority in San Jose around 6 a.m. Wednesday. The ninth victim died yesterday at a near by hospital.  The shooter shot himself as police approached.