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MN Pro Teams, Local Businesses Send Letter Urging Politicians to Chill Out
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- MN Pro Teams, Local Businesses Send Letter Urging Politicians to Chill Out
Chad Davis - @daviss (X)
Eyes across the state of Minnesota have been diverted in recent days/weeks, from other areas of life — including the local sports scene — to the unrest happening in Minneapolis between Federal officials and ICE protestors.
For example, the Minnesota Timberwolves game scheduled for this evening was originally supposed to be played on Saturday, until the second ICE-involved shooting death happened yesterday on Nicollet Avenue.
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But even before that, Minneapolis was starting to become a no-go zone for anyone not looking for illegal immigrants or protesting to protect them. Earlier this week, more than 10,000 protestors were walking through the streets.
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Minnesota pro sports teams sign letter urging politicians to calm down
Of course, everyone has a right to peacefully protest, but the situation downtown has become untenable and local businesses are trying to fight back by urging local, state and federal officials to chill tf out.
It came in the form of a letter submitted by the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce on Sunday, which was signed by at least 65 extremely powerful businesses throughout the state of Minnesota, including the Vikings, Timberwolves/Lynx, Wild and United FC.
NEW: The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce released this letter on behalf of more than 60 CEOs of Minnesota-based companies today. https://t.co/n4x7yJGoJv pic.twitter.com/uzXg0tzjIm
— Minnesota Chamber of Commerce (@MN_Chamber) January 25, 2026
The business community in Minnesota prides itself in providing leadership and solving problems to ensure a strong and vibrant state. The recent challenges facing our state have created widespread disruption and tragic loss of life. For the past several weeks, representatives of Minnesota's business community have been working every day behind the scenes with federal, state and local officials to advance real solutions. These efforts have included close communication with the Governor, the White House, the Vice President and local mayors. There are ways for us to come together to foster progress.
With yesterday's tragic news, we are calling for an immediate deescalation of tensions and for state, local and federal officials to work together to find real solutions.
We have been working for generations to build a strong and vibrant state here in Minnesota and will do so in the months and years ahead with equal and even greater commitment. In this difficult moment for our community, we call for peace and focused cooperation among local, state and federal leaders to achieve a swift and durable solution that enables families, businesses, our employees, and communities across Minnesota to resume our work to build a bright and prosperous future.
Signatories:
3M – William Brown, Chairman and CEO
Allianz Life Insurance Company – Jasmine Jirele, President and CEO
Allina – Lisa Shannon, President and CEO, Tim Welsh, Board Chair
Ameriprise Financial – James Cracchiolo, Chairman and CEO
Anchor Paper – Brooke Lee, CEO
Andersen Corporation – Chris Galvin, Chairman and CEO
APi Group – Russell Becker, CEO and President
Best Buy – Corie Barry, CEO
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota – Dana Erickson, President and CEO
Boston Scientific – Joseph Fitzgerald, Executive Vice President and Group President, Cardiology
Cargill – Brian Sikes, Board Chair and CEO
Carlson – Scott Gage, Chair
CentraCare Health – Kenneth Holmen, M.D., President and CEO
C.H. Robinson – Dave Bozeman, President and CEO
CHS – Jay Debertin, President and CEO
Children's Minnesota – Emily Chapman, M.D., CEO
Delta Dental of Minnesota – Rodney Young, CEO
Deluxe Corporation – Barry McCarthy, President and CEO
Donaldson Company, Inc. – Tod Carpenter, Chairman, President and CEO
ECMC Group – Dan Fisher, CEO
Ecolab – Christophe Beck, Chairman and CEO
Essentia Health – Dr. David Herman, CEO
Fairview Health Services – James Hereford, President and CEO
Faribault Mill – Ross Widmoyer, President and CEO
Gardner Builders – Bob Gardner, Founder and CEO
General Mills – Jeff Harmening, Chairman and CEO
Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare – Barbara Joers, President and CEO
Greater MSP – Peter Frosch, CEO
Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation – Dr. Joseph Lee, President and CEO
HealthPartners – Andrea Walsh, President and CEO
Hormel – Jeff Ettinger, Interim CEO
Kraus-Anderson Companies, Inc. – Peter J. Diessner, CEO
Land O'Lakes – Beth Ford, President and CEO
Liberty Diversified International – Mike Fiterman, Chairman
Marsden Holding – Guy Mingo, President and CEO
Mayo Clinic – Gianrico Farrugia, M.D., President and CEO
Medica – Lisa Erickson, President and CEO
Medtronic – Geoff Martha, CEO and Chairman
Minnesota Business Partnership – Kurt Zellers, CEO
Minnesota Chamber of Commerce – Doug Loon, President and CEO
Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx – On behalf of the entire organization
Minnesota Twins – On behalf of the entire organization
Minnesota United FC – Shari Ballard, CEO
Minnesota Vikings – On behalf of the entire organization
Minnesota Wild – On behalf of the entire organization
Mortenson – David Mortenson, Chairperson, Derek Cunz, President and CEO
New Horizon Academy – Chad Dunkley, CEO
nVent – Beth Wozniak, Chair and CEO
Patterson Companies – Robert Rajalingam, CEO
Pentair – John L. Stauch, President and CEO
Piper Sandler – Chad Abraham, Chairman and CEO
Prime Therapeutics – Mostafa Kamal, President and CEO
Red Wing Shoes – Allison Gettings, President and CEO
Ryan Companies US, Inc. – Brian Murray, CEO
Schwan's Company – Brian Schiegg, CEO
Securian Financial Group – Chris Hilger, Chairman, President and CEO
Sleep Number – Linda Findley, President and CEO
SPS Commerce – Chad Collins, CEO
Target – Michael Fiddelke, Incoming CEO
Tennant Company – Dave Huml, President and CEO
Thrivent – Teresa Rasmussen, President and CEO
The Toro Company – Rick Olson, Chairman and CEO
UnitedHealth Group – Stephen J. Hemsley, CEO
U.S. Bancorp – Gunjan Kedia, CEO
Winnebago Industries – Michael Happe, President and CEO
Xcel Energy – Bob Frenzel, Chairman, President and CEO
The only local pro sports team not on the social media graphic was the Minnesota Twins, but they were listed among the signees (above) on the MNCC's website.
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No matter which side of the ICE fence you sit on, I think everyone can agree that the political leaders involved on all levels — federal, state and local — have done very little to calm the unrest happening recently in Minneapolis.
Clearly, the businesses locally — whose well-being literally rely on the city being a safe place — are sick and tired of politicians fanning the flames.
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