Financial Services CEOs Call for Reduced Tensions in Minneapolis
Allianz Life, Securian Financial Group, Ameriprise Financial, and Thrivent are among businesses who signed a letter on Sunday calling for an “immediate de-escalation of tensions” in Minnesota.
The signatories include Jasmine Jirele, president and CEO of Allianz Life, James Cracchiolo, chairman and CEO of Ameriprise Financial, Securian Financial Group Chairman, President, and CEO Chris Hilger, and Thrivent President and CEO Teresa Rasmussen.
The financial services firms, who are all headquartered in Minnesota, joined the list of over 60 large Minnesota-based businesses in an open letter requesting for peace and order following the fatal shooting of U.S. citizen and intensive care nurse Alex Pretti on Saturday by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
The killing of Pretti comes just three weeks after Minneapolis resident Renee Good, who was also a U.S. citizen, was shot and killed by an immigration officer.
Protestors have taken the streets of Minneapolis in recent weeks as the Trump Administration surged ICE activity in the city. President Trump has so far deployed over 3,000 ICE officers to Minneapolis as part of the administration’s immigration crackdown.
“With yesterday’s tragic news, we are calling for an immediate deescalation of tensions and for state, local and federal officials to work together to find real solutions,” the letter reads.
The companies added that representatives of Minnesota’s businesses have been working with “federal, state, and local officials,” including “the Governor, the White House, the Vice President, and local mayors,” to “foster progress.”
“In this difficult moment for our community, we call for peace and focused cooperation among local, state and federal leaders to achieve a swift and durable solution that enables families, businesses, our employees, and communities across Minnesota to resume our work to build a bright and prosperous future,” the letter concludes.
The open letter was released by the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce on behalf of the organizations and associations. Other top businesses who signed the open letter include Target, General Mills, Best Buy, and UnitedHealth Group.
A complete list of the signatories can be found here.
Amanda Umpierrez is the Managing Editor of 401(k) Specialist magazine. She is a financial services reporter with nearly a decade of experience and a passion for telling stories and reporting news. She is originally from Queens, New York, but now resides in Denver, Colorado.