Lower the flag half staff on 8/31 Overdose Awareness day in remembrance of the loved ones lost to overdose.

Every day in America we lose over 200 loved ones to opioid overdose. In Minnesota alone, the number of overdoses went up by over 20% in 2019 compared to 2018. The deaths specifically related to fentanyl went up by 48%. 

Our goal is to have the flags lowered on 8/31 to half staff in honor and remembrance of those lives lost. Governor Walz denied the request because "it doesnt meet the criteria to lower the flag". But yet the flag meets the criteria to be lowered half staff for the lives lost to the covid 19. When in factuality the overdose numbers have gone up since the covid 19. 

Over 200 families every day receive the call that their loved one died from opioids. My family was one of those, not once but twice. This is a national tragedy and thousands of families nationwide are in mourning. How does this not meet the criteria to lower the flag? 

USA.gov states "The United States flag flies at half staff (or half-mast) when the NATION OR A STATE IS IN MOURNING. The president, through a presidential proclamation, a state governor, or the mayor of the District of Columbia can order flags to fly at half-staff. Most often, this is done to mark the death of a government official, military member, or first responder; in honor of Memorial Day or OTHER NATIONAL DAY OF REMEMBRANCE; or FOLLOWING A NATIONAL TRAGEDY.

PLEASE SIGN THIS PETITION TO GET OUR GOVERNMENT TO STOP THE STIGMA AND REMEMBER OUR LOVED ONES WHO DIED FROM AN OVERDOSE. THEIR LIVES MATTER.