Federal authorities in Minnesota are investigating a possible arson attack that severely damaged the offices of three conservative groups, which the groups say was a targeted political attack.
The fire broke out early Sunday morning at the offices of the American Experiment Center, Upper Midwest Law Center and TakeCharge in the Minneapolis suburb of Golden Valley. Authorities have not announced any arrests or a potential motive. All three offices share the same building with several other businesses.
“The arson was clearly committed by an unknown party,” John Hinderaker, president of the conservative think tank Center of the American Experiment, said in a statement. “They were targeting conservative organizations, not chiropractors, psychologists, or the Manufacturers Alliance with an incendiary attack. We are working with the FBI to identify the perpetrators.”
The FBI did not respond to requests for comment. The Golden Valley Fire Department referred questions to ATF, and ATF’s St. Paul Field Division confirmed that the fire is being investigated as an act of arson.
Several conservative groups in the same building were set on fire, and some suspect the attack was politically motivated. (Left photo courtesy of Kathryn Hinderaker / LOCAL NEWS X /TMX. Top right is Center of the American Experiment. Bottom right is KSTP-TV.)
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by American experiment, “The fire occurred around 2 a.m. Sunday morning outside American Experiment and TakeCharge’s first-floor offices, and UMLC’s third-floor office. There was no visible fire damage on the second floor. In addition to three conservative policy organizations, we are building an organization with a variety of small businesses.”
“We are very concerned that we may have been targeted. arsonThis constitutes an act of domestic terrorism,” Kendall Qualls, president of TakeCharge, said before offering a theory as to why the company was allegedly attacked.
“We were targeted because we are a conservative Black organization that challenges the discourse of systemic racism. If we were a left-wing organization, a swarm of media outlets would come to our door and declare that we are victims of racism.”
Inside the offices of the American Experiment Center after a fire that destroyed three different conservative groups. (Credit: Kathryn Hinderaker / LOCAL NEWS X /TMX)
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“They can firebomb our offices, but we will never stop promoting the bold truth. The problem of racial disparity is not the fault of systemic racism. That’s because the single-parent home crisis has exploded by more than 80 percent in nearly every major city. is a national organization. [B]Community is missing. “This heinous act gives us the courage to be stronger and speak louder,” he said.
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James Dickey, senior counsel at the Upper Midwest Law Center, issued a similar statement.
“We are not intimidated by this clear act of domestic terrorism. Our resolve to uphold justice and protect the rights of Minnesotans remains unwavering. Despite the setbacks, the Upper Midwest Law Center remains committed to fairness, We will continue to champion the values of equality and freedom for all,” Dickey said. “We are grateful to local fire and rescue teams for their quick efforts to extinguish the fire, and the FBI, ATF, and local authorities for their quick response and dedication to finding the perpetrator. I hope those responsible will be brought to justice for this violent act. ”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
