Communities in northern Minnesota have the appearance of opening their arms for people from all walks of life.
But a reminder that bigotry and racism are alive and well — even in small northern Minnesota communities — resulted in two arrests in Bemidji Wednesday.
Early Friday, a rural Bemidji woman discoavered an 8-foot burning cross outside her home. The woman is the mother of two adult children whose father is black. Deputies at the scene discovered a racist message and other racist artifacts on the cross.
Two Bemidji men, ages 19 and 20, were arrested and are being held under suspicion of terrorist threats and use of explosive and incendiary devises.
It’s one thing to have an opinion contrary to others. That, as northern Minnesotan’s, we can accept. But it’s another thing to perpetuate a bias crime that sends a message of fear and underlying threats.
Clearly, northern Minnesota isn’t immune to racial issues. We like to think so, but intolerance and racism occurs even in Bemidji, where an award-winning program promotes diversity and encourages the community to become a model for race relations in the state.
The two men arrested should be presumed innocent until the court process is completed. But if a court determines their guilt, they must be held accountable for this act of intimidation and violence and face the strongest penalties available.
Bemidji isn’t the only community facing such issues. Duluth, too, has recently heard accusations of bias crimes against a gay man.
And Borderland is not immune from bigotry and racism. While we may not speak much about it, we hope that our community squelches rude comments and actions focusing on race, sexual orientation, disability and religion as quickly as they are made.
As a state, we must stand together against such intolerance of others and come together to focus on our shared strengths as northern Minnesotans.
