Raid on Congresswoman Omar a dangerous escalation

Minnesota AFL-CIO President Bernie Burnham made the following statement in response to news that Homeland Security agents raided Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar's Washington, D.C. residence:

"Today’s raid of Congresswoman Ilhan Omar’s Washington, D.C. residence is a dangerous escalation in Donald Trump’s continued efforts to weaponize our federal government against Minnesotans.

"Minnesota’s Labor Movement stands with Congresswoman Omar. She is a former union member and we believe an injury to one is an injury to all. If Donald Trump can do this to her, he can do it to any other American citizen.

"Disagreeing with a person’s political view is a sign of a healthy democracy, but abusing our federal government’s resources to attack a political opponent goes against everything our nation and constitution stands for.

"It’s no coincidence this latest action, coupled with the President’s recent calls for violence against the Somali-American community, comes just three weeks before an election his party is expected to lose. This is a desperate attempt to sow division and hate, and Minnesotans won’t fall for it."