1.1A Senate resolution
1.2expressing the Minnesota Senate's condemnation of the removal of the Minnesota
1.3National Guard from the St. Paul Labor Center.
1.4WHEREAS, the Minnesota National Guard has a unique dual mission that consists of federal
1.5and state roles, and can be activated to serve missions by the Governor of Minnesota or the President
1.6of the United States; and
1.7WHEREAS, the Minnesota National Guard has a record of exemplary service in response
1.8to calls to service by the President and the Governor in times of peace, civil unrest, and war; and
1.9WHEREAS, the members of the Minnesota National Guard are citizen soldiers who come
1.10from all parts of the state, and include people who are teachers, nurses, farmers, truck drivers,
1.11painters, students, friends, neighbors, mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters, who serve voluntarily
1.12to answer the call of our state and nation; and
1.13WHEREAS, the Governor activated the Minnesota National Guard on February 5, 2021, to
1.14protect public safety and security, and the lives, property, and rights of residents, businesses, and
1.15protesters alike; and
1.16WHEREAS, the citizen soldiers of the Minnesota National Guard left their jobs, families,
1.17and homes to answer the call to duty to respond to the needs of their fellow Minnesotans in their
1.18time of need, and did this without hesitation as they have done throughout their history; and
1.19WHEREAS, the members of Minnesota National Guard were given permission to use the
1.20St. Paul Union Labor Center for a staging area, used the facility respectfully, caused no damage,
1.21and left when requested to do so; and
1.22WHEREAS, on the night of Wednesday, April 14, 2021, members of the Minnesota National
1.23Guard that were staged at the St. Paul Labor Center were told they had to immediately leave the
1.24building, without warning, and without any place to go; and
2.1WHEREAS, the members of the Minnesota National Guard very professionally vacated the
2.2St. Paul Labor Center while being harassed and taunted by union members and leaders; NOW
2.3THEREFORE,
2.4BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the State of Minnesota that it commends the actions of
2.5the members of Minnesota National Guard for their professionalism in responding once again
2.6without hesitation to the call to duty during this time of civil unrest and relocating on a moment's
2.7notice.
2.8BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Senate of the State of Minnesota calls upon the
2.9members of the unions that were involved in the disparaging treatment of the members of the
2.10Minnesota National Guard at the St. Paul Labor Center on the night of April 14, 2021, to remove
2.11the union leadership responsible for the removal of the soldiers.
2.12BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is directed to prepare a copy
2.13of this resolution, to be authenticated by his signature and that of the Chair of the Senate Committee
2.14on Rules and Administration, and transmit it to Governor Walz.