ST. PAUL — The leaders of Mayo Clinic and Hormel were among the more than 60 CEOs of Minnesota-based companies who have signed a letter asking for an “immediate de-escalation of tensions and for state, local and federal officials to work together to find real solutions.”
The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce released
the day after a man was shot and killed by federal Border Patrol agents.
The man, identified as 37-year-old Alex Pretti of Minneapolis, died Saturday morning, Jan. 24, after an encounter with federal agents that was caught on video by several bystanders. The incident happened near Nicollet Avenue and West 26th Street. The shooting was the third by federal agents in as many weeks in Minneapolis. Renee Good, 37, of Minneapolis was shot and killed on Jan. 7 in an incident that became a flashpoint in Minneapolis and around the country. Another man was shot in the leg by federal agents on Jan. 14.
“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,” the letter reads.
Among the CEOs who signed the letter are Mayo Clinic’s Dr. Gianrico Farrugia, Hormel’s Jeff Ettinger, 3M’s William Brown, UnitedHealth’s Stephen J. Hemsley, and Target’s incoming CEO Michael Fiddelke. The Minnesota Vikings, Minnesota Wild and Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx organizations also signed onto the letter.
The letter added that the ongoing situation has created “widespread disruption and tragic loss of life” and that representatives of the state’s business community “have been working every day behind the scenes with federal, state and local officials to advance real solutions.” That includes communicating with the governor’s office, White House and local mayors. On Thursday, Vice President J.D. Vance visited Minnesota to have what the White House described as a roundtable discussion “focused on restoring law and order in Minnesota.”
“There are ways for us to come together to foster progress,” the letter said. “… 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.”
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