San Benito County school and government buildings had their flags lowered to half staff today in honor of the victims of the tragedy in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, by executive order of President Barack Obama. The flags will be flown at half staff until sunset today.
On Aug. 5, Wade Michael Page allegedly killed six people at a Sikh temple in Oak Creek, injury many more. Page died at the scene. More than 3,000 people turned out for the funeral of the victims in Oak Creek.
The San Benito County Office of Education forwarded the message received on Aug. 6 to all schools in the district.
“As a mark of respect for the victims of the senseless acts of violence perpetrated on Aug. 5, 2012 in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, by the authority vested in me as President of the United States by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds…” read the proclamation, signed by Obama.
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder was one of many to attend the services.
“Unfortunately, for the Sikh community, this sort of violence has become all too common in recent years,” Holder said. “In the recent past, too many Sikhs have been targeted and victimized simply because of who they are, how they look, and what they believe. This is wrong. It is unacceptable. And it will not be tolerated. We must ask necessary questions of ourselves: What kind of nation do we truly want to have?”
Bill Glauber and Annysa Johnson of the Journal Sentinel contributed to this report.
