In a solemn gesture of remembrance and unity, Governor JB Pritzker has ordered all flags across Illinois to be flown at half-staff from sunrise on Friday, September 12, 2025, through sunset on Sunday, September 14, 2025. The directive, issued through the Department of Central Management Services, calls on all persons and entities covered by the Illinois Flag Display Act to lower both United States and State flags in honor of victims of political violence.

This statewide observance comes amid a troubling wave of politically motivated attacks and timely remembrances that have shaken communities across the nation. Just days ago, conservative activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated while speaking at Utah Valley University. Earlier this summer, Minnesota mourned the killing of Democratic State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, in a targeted shooting, while State Senator John Hoffman and his wife were also wounded in a related attack. In Pennsylvania, Governor Josh Shapiro’s residence was firebombed while he and his family slept inside. Two Israeli embassy staffers were murdered outside a Jewish museum event in Washington, D.C., in what federal prosecutors have charged as a hate crime. Tesla charging stations have been set ablaze in multiple states, and a campaign office for Democratic nominee Kamala Harris in Arizona was struck by gunfire—twice in one week.

And, needless to say, the nation continues to grapple with the gravity of two assassination attempts against President Donald Trump during his 2024 campaign—one at a rally in Pennsylvania, where he was grazed by a bullet, and another at his Florida golf course, where a rifle-wielding suspect was apprehended before he could act.

The timing of this flag-lowering order also coincides with the annual remembrance of the September 11 attacks, the deadliest act of political violence in U.S. history. As communities across Illinois and the country reflect on the nearly 3,000 lives lost that day, the symbolism of lowered flags carries added weight—a call for unity, vigilance, and peace.

In Delavan, flags at city buildings, schools, and local businesses joined the statewide tribute. Residents paused to reflect on the meaning behind the gesture, many expressing quiet solidarity with those affected by violence and reaffirming their commitment to civil discourse and democratic values.

As the flags return to full staff at sunset on Sunday, the message remains: Illinois stands united in remembrance—and resolute in its rejection of violence as a means of political expression.