Open Letter to the Jim Schultz Campaign

We are clergy and faith leaders from many religions, including Christian, Muslim and Jewish traditions. We come from all four corners of the state. We recognize that we are all created beings, called by our Creator to care for and love one another in both word and deed. We care for our communities and we love and care for the people of the state of Minnesota. Because of that love and care, we demand that the GOP Attorney General candidate Jim Schultz, rebuke and demand recent ads steeped in race- and fear-based dog whistles be taken down. These have been long time tactics of harm and division in a state that is in desperate need of unifying leadership and trust. 

All Minnesotans across race, gender and neighborhood want the freedom to have their rights, their finances, their ability to care for self and others, as well as their safety, protected. These recent ads for Jim Schultz were paid for by big corporations like ExxonMobile and Koch Industries through the Republican Association of Attorneys General (RAGA). These are the very same corporations that are being sued by the state for corrupt and dishonest business practices that hurt Minnesotan families, our household finances and our state's future. This isn't a coincidence.  

The ads feature race baiting tropes historically used and intended to scare voters, not just from opponents, but each other. This is a dangerous and immoral tactic that has long standing implications that will impact our state well after the election ends. Minnesotans across race, gender, age and partisanship experienced four years of Trump-like, fear-based tactics of scapegoating communities of color and poverty to win political points. We know these use these tactics to keep us divided and distracted from the corporate greed that the Attorney General's office is in charge of taking on.

Minnesotans, whether in North Mankato or North Minneapolis, from Red Wing to Redwood Falls, rural, suburban or Cities, Minnesotans are greater than the fear and division that's being pushed and we'll reject these underhanded ploys. Anyone wanting leadership in the state, should reject it as well. 

Please do Minnesotans the great justice of calling for the ads to be removed, Mr. Schulz. 

Signed, 

(Only Name, Title and City will be displayed)