DENVER - Governor Jared Polis today ordered flags to be lowered to half-staff on all public buildings until sunset on Wednesday, April 7, 2021, as a sign of remembrance and honor for his former colleague, Representative Alcee Hastings of Florida, as proclaimed by President Biden.
“I’m saddened to lose a friend and former colleague. For the ten years I served in the United States Congress, I sat next to Alcee on the Rules Committee including during many late night sessions,” said Governor Polis. “No one could spin a yarn like Alcee, who always made his points in an inspirational and often poetic manner. I will miss him.”
Please see below the statement of President Biden on the passing of Congressman Alcee Hastings.
"I had the privilege of getting to know Alcee Hastings during the years when he served in the House of Representatives and I served in the United States Senate and later as Vice President. I greatly admired him for his singular sense of humor, and for always speaking the truth bluntly and without reservation. A trailblazing lawyer who grew up in the Jim Crow South, Alcee was outspoken because he was passionate about helping our nation live up to its full promise for all Americans. It was a passion he forged as a pioneering civil rights lawyer in the 1960s, fighting tirelessly to desegregate hotels, restaurants, and public spaces in south Florida — a trailblazing spirit to advocate for what is right that guided him throughout his life.
Across his long career of public service, Alcee always stood up to fight for equality, and always showed up for the working people he represented. And even in his final battle with cancer, he simply never gave up.
Jill and I are saddened to learn of his passing. May God bless Alcee Hastings and his family."
Pursuant to law, the flags are automatically lowered to half-staff for a sitting member of Congress. This action will change the previous order to raise the flags to full-staff on the 6th. Instead, the flags will now be returned to full-staff at midnight on the 7th of April.