Senator Al Novstrup (R-3/Aberdeen) says, “We should be searching the people that look like the possible people that might be involved in the crime of the day….”
Novstrup originally said his call for racial and ethnic profiling didn’t apply to Nordic types. But the white terrorist cell in Willmar suggests otherwise. Five very white Minnesotans were busted at the end of January for stockpiling drugs and weapons. This week, one of those Willmarians, Chad Lee Monson, was hauled cuffed and shackled to court to face new charges stemming from a second illegal weapons cache found on his property:
According to allegations in the most recent criminal complaint, Kandiyohi County sheriff’s officers and members of the CEE-VI Drug and Gang Task Force and Minneapolis Bomb Squad, and other law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a rural property southeast of Willmar where Monson operated his excavating business. In a shed there they found two live PVC pipe bombs with fuses intact; eight machine guns, two of them Uzi models; two short-barreled shotguns of different models; three suppressors; two five-gallon pails containing explosive materials for making explosive devices; various detonators and other ignition devices; and a plastic film container that tested positive for methamphetamine.
The weapons were found in weapons cases, a guitar case, and in pails, according to the allegations.
Monson is not allowed to possess firearms as part of the conditions for his prior arrests.
The complaint alleges that prior to the searches of his property, Monson told an individual that he located the residence of a judge, a prosecutor, and another attorney and intended to use or “plant” explosives in or near those persons’ vehicles or homes [Tom Cherveny, “Pipe Bombs, Machine Guns Seized from Monson’s Business Leading to 16 New Charges,” Willmar West Central Tribune, 2018.02.26].
I can understand why Al might want to sow fear about 40-something white males. But I hope the Willmar terrorist cell helps explain why Novstrup’s definition of “terrorists” as people of “mixed racial background” is wrong and why his call to stop and frisk anyone who looks like any recent arrestee is unworkable, unconstitutional, and racist.
Cory, you are an extremely bright person and have a lot of ideas to offer. You know SD government like the back of your hand.
Go get Al on intellectual substance and wholesome populist issues like jobs and low wages. The racism thing is important but remember these are SD voters, it could very well backfire.
We do like our racists here in South Dakota.
Jenny, your warning is apt. However, we must unflinchingly call out racism. If I’m going to lose an election because a large percentage of my neighbors don’t want to hear a racist called a racist, well, then those neighbors need to change their attitude, and that attitude won’t change on its own.
Jeez Cory, now you sound like Harry Truman and Jimmy Carter – two crazy politicians that would only do what they believed to be the right thing, regardless of the political cost. How refreshing!
James Earl Carter had lust in his heart. Drumpf has lust at his core. Lust for women, power, money and most of all for himself.
I remember Carter’s Playboy confessions, but who really cares what is in another person’s heart (or mind). What matters is what that person does, not what he or she thinks. And Carter’s behavior in office and outside office was and is admirable. If his motivation was to do what he believed to be right, rather than how much money he got from the NRA or other group, then that seems to deserve our appreciation, even if we disagreed on policy objectives or process.
Carter was seemingly naive, but I hold him in high regard because of his convictions. It is unfortunate for America he ran into wingnut dirty tricks squad under Raygun where winning was the only goal.
Carter, both Jimmy and Roslyn, build houses for humanity. Drumpf builds monuments to himself.