The ad is reminiscent of a St. Paul City Council Resolution from last December condemning “anti-Muslim, anti-refugee, and anti-immigrant speech from presidential candidate Donald Trump and others,” which was deemed as “anti-Free Speech” in a Star Tribune editorial.
The ad states, “Every intolerant social post, every prejudiced comment aimed at Muslims needs a response. Your response” going on to state, “we must lead people to a place of tolerance and understanding.”
Prominent Minnesota politicians signed on to the ad include Amy Klobuchar, Al Franken, Betty McCollum, Rick Nolan, Keith Ellison, Tim Walz, and Governor Mark Dayton. No current Republican officials are listed.
President Eric Kaler of the University of Minnesota is included, as well as leaders at Macalaster and Augsburg. Business owners representing Best Buy, HealthPartners, Mayo Clinic, Medtronic, Pentair, Cargill, General Mills, and others were also listed.
A Star Tribune article shows that the executive director of the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Jaylani Hussein, said he and Representative Keith Ellison had discussed how to best “push back on Islamophobia” calling the ad “a good first step.” The hashtag #UnMinnesota has featured a number of responses on Twitter.
