Statement Urging Unity in Response to St. Cloud Violence

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Steve Fletcher, stevef@takeactionminnesota.org, (612) 293-8683

 Statement Urging Unity in Response to St. Cloud Violence

SAINT CLOUD (September 19, 2016) — TakeAction MN released the following statement:

“The tragic event this weekend at the Crossroads Mall shocked and saddened us all. We wish healing and strength to the victims of these attacks and their families. We also, as a community, are concerned at the fear-based responses we’ve seen from many – mostly outsiders to our community – that seem cynically designed to serve a political agenda that promotes more pain and division between us. We cannot overcome fear and we cannot heal our community by acting out in anger, or by making sweeping assumptions about each other thatadvance toxic narratives and stereotype our neighbors, friends, and colleagues.  The actions of this one man do not represent an entire community or faith practice. St. Cloud is no place for political hate speech – especially after a tragedy like the one we saw this weekend. Our community will heal and emerge stronger than ever by valuing and celebrating the diversity we represent, and by coming together to build deep community connections grounded in love and generosity.”

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TakeAction Minnesota is a statewide people’s network of individual and organizational members working collaboratively to raise the voices of Minnesotans in their own communities to advance social, racial and economic justice. The organization has offices in St. Paul, St. Cloud, and Duluth.