Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Longview Tragedy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Governor Ferguson orders flags half-staff after Longview tragedy, leads moment of silence
Summary
Governor Ferguson announced flags statewide would be placed at half-staff for the week after an industrial accident in Longview that he said killed 11 workers, and led a moment of silence before the flag-raising.
Governor Ferguson told the crowd he had directed flags across Washington to be placed at half-staff in remembrance of workers killed in a recent Longview industrial accident. He described the incident as the deadliest industrial tragedy in modern state history and said he had visited the affected community.
"I ordered the flags in Washington state to be placed at 0.5 staff throughout this week, in remembrance of the great tragedy we experienced in Longview last week where 11 individuals 11 workers went to work, and did not come home," the governor said. He called for a moment of silence for the victims and gave instructions for how the public flag-raising would proceed.
Ferguson framed the state's action as consistent with other flags already lowered across state sites and asked volunteers and children to take part in cranking the flag during the public ceremony. He closed by reiterating the state's commitment to defending rights and values in the face of threats from federal actions.
The program moved to the capitol's grassy area for the public flag-raising immediately after these remarks.
