Lewis Tours Devastation in Minneapolis & St. Paul
Meets with Hmong Business Owners Hurt By Riots
June 4, 2020
MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL, Minn. — U.S. Senate candidate Jason Lewis released the following statement after spending Wednesday touring the devastation in Minneapolis and St. Paul from days of rioting. Lewis also met with Rick Aguilar (longtime Latino community activist and former St. Paul Chamber of Commerce President), Congressional candidates Lacy Johnson and Sia Lo, and several Hmong-American community members in St. Paul whose businesses have been looted and destroyed. A press conference was held at “New Fashion” on University Avenue. A video from the press conference can be watched here.
“Yesterday I toured the devastation in Minneapolis and St. Paul and spoke with several business owners whose livelihoods have been pushed to the brink of destruction. It is heartbreaking to see firsthand what our communities are dealing with. We are looking at carnage that we’ve never seen before. First, businesses were forced to close because of the overreaching government edicts due to COVID. Now they are dealing with unfathomable physical and financial damage from rioting and looting that never should have been allowed to happen in the first place. Hearing the pain in business owners’ voices as they tell their stories of being looted, having property destroyed, or having a safe robbed from the back office, and then describing the uncertainty and instability their businesses now face was gut-wrenching.
It is worth pointing out that Senator Tina Smith has not published anything regarding the devastating toll the riots have taken on our small business owners, nor does it appear she has taken the time to meet with any of them. I am disappointed to see this, but unsurprised given her comments calling for continued protest over the weekend following days of arson and looting. A total change in leadership is needed for our state. When I am your next United States Senator, at long last workers and business owners will have strong leadership that can actually be depended upon in times of crisis.”
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