As the Twin Cities reel from this month’s killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good by federal immigration agents, the city’s business community responded with a call for common sense and common ground.
On Jan. 25, the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce called for de-escalation, peace and cooperation, in a brief, carefully neutral notice signed by 60 of the state’s most powerful business figures.
“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 letter said. Businesses represented include Best Buy, Land O’Lakes, the Minnesota Twins and Vikings, as well as Target.
It’s easy to understand why they felt the need to weigh in. Not long ago, Minneapolis was devastated by unrest and the destruction that followed the police killing of George Floyd. Two such troubling periods in one city’s history — in such quick succession — makes it unsurprising that the folks that operate companies want to find a fair and peaceful way to restore some semblance of order, not only for their businesses but also for the people they employ and serve.
Some were surprised to see such a large group of business leaders speak out given the polarization of the moment. That’s not a reality exclusive to Minnesota.
In fact, back in November when Chicago was enduring Operation Midway Blitz, dozens of notables, including the heads of both the Chicagoland and Illinois chambers of commerce, issued a similar statement condemning the “unprecedented militarization of our city.”
When business leaders speak publicly, they do so from a position that is both influential and constrained. They are not elected, and they are not accountable to voters. By and large, business figures have no incentive to flame tensions. Their focus is continuity: Keeping workplaces safe, supply chains intact and employees showing up without fear. For all of these reasons, it’s often easier to stay out of the fray and focus on business operations. This reluctance to speak up is precisely why such statements carry weight when they do occur.
Asked at the recent Davos conference in Switzerland if a “climate of fear” prevails among American business leaders, Jamie Dimon, chief executive of JP Morgan Chase, said, “I think that is completely clear.”
And with good reason. The Trump administration has carried out a campaign of intimidation that is working to muzzle even CEOs such as Dimon who in the past readily spoke out about politically charged topics. One year into Trump’s second term, it is impossible to ignore that antagonizing the White House can lead to retaliation.
Still, Minnesota business leaders spoke out, striking a tone we’re sure resonated with angry and weary residents. As with the Chicago signatories before them, they felt the need to speak out about what they perceived as an attack on the community in which they live and work. Good for them.
As a general matter, business leaders are not politicians and while their words can shape discourse and influence outcomes it’s not their responsibility to advocate regularly on issues of the day. Their first duty is to shareholders, not voters.
That so many felt the need to do so in Minnesota — and before that in Chicago — reflects the importance of the moment. In both cases, their call for de-escalation and cooperation was the right message.
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