ST. PAUL – State Rep. Chris Swedzinski, R-Ghent, issued the following statement Tuesday calling on the McKnight Foundation and Patagonia to condemn protesters who on Monday compared law enforcement officers to Nazis (may be heard with around 14:30 remaining in this video). Patagonia and the McKnight Foundation are two significant funders of MN350, a climate organization whose protesters illegally shut down the Enbridge station in Clearbrook, Minn., on Monday. Swedzinski is the lead Republican on the House Energy and Climate Finance and Policy Division.
“McKnight and Patagonia must make clear that this behavior is unacceptable and should pull funding if their donations are going to be used to fund illegal and harassing behavior,” Swedzinski said. “It was bad enough these protesters caused a public safety hazard by forcing a law enforcement response on an icy morning in Northern Minnesota. Comparing local sheriff’s deputies to Nazis is downright shameful and warrants a swift and strong response from the organizations that fund this outrageous behavior.”
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