Minnesota-based CEOs, including Fortune 500 bosses, call for immediate de-escalation of tensions after fatal shooting
Story by Jason Ma, Fprtune, January 25, 2026
In an open letter Sunday from the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, more than 60 CEOs said the business community has been working behind the scenes with officials for several weeks. That includes Gov. Tim Walz, the White House, Vice President JD Vance, and local mayors.
“With yesterday’s tragic news, we are calling for an immediate de-escalation of tensions and for state, local and federal officials to work together to find real solutions,” it added.
The statement notably avoids any criticism and stops short of calling for immigration officers to leave the city, which Walz, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, and other elected officials have done.
That’s despite Saturday’s shooting marking the third one in the state this month, and the second deadly one. It also followed days of reports about immigration officers in Minnesota detaining young children, arresting U.S. citizens, and forcibly entering homes without judicial warrants.
Video evidence also contradicted the Trump administration’s claim that Alex Pretti, who was a nurse in a veterans hospital, threatened the Border Patrol before being shot.
“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,” the Chamber of Commerce letter added.
Minnesota-based CEOs, including Fortune 500 bosses, call for immediate de-escalation of tensions after fatal shooting •
Clarification: An observer is not necessarily a protestor. When someone next to you gets assaulted by ICE officers and you raise an objection while continuing to record the breach of lawful conduct by the officers, that observer is doing his civic duty. The whole process is now suspect in light of the fact that DHS offered to stop the action in Minnesota in exchange for voter rolls. This is conjunction with previous actions by the administration to get 20 states to turn over voter rolls and pardoning fake electors and election clerks who've committed election fraud. The persistent lies and disregard for the law makes it difficult to support the activity in any way. |
