St. Cloud Leaders Issue Joint Statement as ICE Operations Continue in Central Minnesota | KNSI

(KNSI) – In the wake of ongoing Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in central Minnesota, dozens of civic, business, and education leaders in St. Cloud have issued a joint statement affirming their commitment to democratic values and peaceful community engagement. The statement, signed by 73 community leaders including Mayor Jake Anderson, St. Cloud State University President Gregory Tomso, and former Mayor Dave Kleis, calls for a community where people are safe, dignity is honored, and differences are met with respect rather than fear. The diverse group of signatories spans multiple sectors, including local government officials like Stearns County Commissioners Tarryl Clark and Bob Johnson, education leaders from St. Cloud Technical & Community College and the College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University, nonprofit executives, business owners, and religious leaders. At the heart of their message is a belief that democracy depends on how community members treat one another. The leaders emphasized that peaceful dialogue, freedom of expression, and equal protection under the Constitution are essential to a society where everyone can contribute. The statement calls for civic engagement without intimidation, for handling disagreements with care rather than cruelty, for upholding both rights and responsibilities, and for ensuring that leadership
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