We Are With You Las Vegas

I offer my deepest condolences to the victims of the tragedy that unfolded in Las Vegas last night. The awful rampage is being called the worst mass shooting in American history. It is sobering to realize that only fourteen months after the shootings in Orlando, which were then the worst in our history, the grim magnitude of that tragedy has already been surpassed.

I call on our community to do what we can to stop the hate in whatever form it takes. Let's commit to being advocates and instruments for peace and compassion instead of opening to hate and division. Our thoughts and prayers go out to those who passed and their families, as well as the survivors and first responders who sprang into action to save lives. Once again, in the midst of such awful events, I am heartened to see the level of determination and selflessness that rises to the surface in people who find themselves in these terrible situations.

Those concert attendees who rushed to the aid of others, whether shielding them or carrying them to get emergency care are everyday heroes. What would our world be like, if in the common course of our lives, we lived each day with the same determination to be of service, to always help others? I invite you to consider that possibility.

The National and State Flags shall remain at half-staff through sunset on Friday, October 6, 2017.

We will update you regarding MDC vigils and memorials in the coming days.