SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Monday ordered all state flags to half staff for a period of mourning in recognition of the senseless loss of life in El Paso, Texas, and in other U.S. cities over the weekend.

“To our neighbors in El Paso: Know that all of New Mexico is standing with you amid this unconscionable tragedy, this horrific, hate-fueled massacre of innocent people,” Gov. Lujan Grisham said. “We mourn with you; we share your pain; we share your anger and sense of injustice. We are no longer shocked when mass gun violence happens in this country. We are no longer surprised by the disingenuous calls to set aside ‘political’ rhetoric in the wake of these killings. Fighting for the inalienable right to live in peace in our communities is apolitical. Working to limit terrorists’ access to machines of mass death is apolitical. Those who are not fighting and working on those fronts are standing in the way of progress, peace and prosperity in our communities, in our states, in this country.

“My heart is with the families of the victims in El Paso, in Dayton and anyone else in this country grappling with the scourge of gun violence. I am praying for you, and as long as I am in office, I will continue to push for measures that will improve our collective public safety.”

Per the governor’s executive order, state flags will fly at half staff through sundown Wednesday, Aug. 7.