A message from the president and CEO
The past two weeks have been painful as we’ve watched Operation Metro Surge unfold across the Twin Cities. Many of us feel shock, fear, anger, and profound sadness. Our neighbors and community members are targeted, particularly those who do not appear white. Families are separated. Children are abducted. Older citizens are dragged out of their homes wearing only shorts and Crocs. The killing of Renee Good in the street. Another killing of a brave observer, Alex Pretti, after a day of peaceful protests.
All of this is horrendous and toxic. The mob mentality of ICE is putting everyone at risk. The sense of safety that should be the foundation of any thriving community is lost, particularly when it is our government that’s acting so lawlessly.
Some people have posited that the January 23 statewide boycott of shopping and work was economically counterproductive. Even though I studied economics, this is not necessarily the way to pulse the day. I would measure it by the number of people from all communities coming together to raise their voices and create change, highlighting the dangers ICE poses to our state.
I often reflect on the role of a museum, especially in moments like these. Many think of museums as repositories of knowledge and things, places where we come to learn about the natural world, explore scientific phenomena, or marvel at the mysteries of the universe. We are all of those things. We are also a gathering place for family and friends, and people who don’t even know each other. We are spaces where community happens. Right now, that role feels more critical than ever.
Some might wonder what a science museum has to contribute to a conversation about immigration enforcement. Science is about evidence and critical thinking. It’s about looking at data and drawing conclusions based on what we can observe and measure. Study after study shows that immigrants — regardless of documentation status — commit crimes at lower rates than native-born citizens. The evidence also tells us that these enforcement actions don’t make our communities safer; they make them more fearful, more fractured, and less able to thrive.
Minnesotans have a remarkable ability to come together. It’s even stronger during a crisis, which we saw during the pandemic. We saw it in the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder. We’re seeing it now. Despite our differences, we know how to show up for one another. We know how to be neighbors. If there’s one thing Minnesotans love, it’s Minnesota — and that means loving the people who make this place home. I call upon all CEOs, particularly of large corporations, to understand they need to support their employees, and they cannot be afraid of taking a stand to show that support.
The Science Museum of Minnesota is committed to being a place where our communities can gather and where families can find moments of wonder, connection, and joy. In times of division and fear, the simple act of being together — physically present with one another — matters more than we might realize and is part of the healing process.
I’m especially proud of our own team’s response to this crisis. Staff members are sharing resources, checking in on one another, and offering help where it’s needed. If you or someone you know needs support, here are resources available:
- Crews from our Kitty Andersen Youth Science Center organized a resource drive collecting basic needs through the end of the month.
- Know your rights and resources
- Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota
- Ways to support Minnesota neighbors affected by ICE
- MIRAC resources
Science teaches us about interconnection: how ecosystems depend on biodiversity, how systems break down when elements are removed, and how resilience comes from diversity and adaptation. Our communities are no different. We are more resilient when we stand with our neighbors than when we turn away from them. We are more true to our values when we act with courage and compassion, even when it’s difficult.
Finally, science is also a human endeavor, and therefore by definition informs and is informed by our values as a community. Our values tell us that science is better when everyone can participate in learning about and celebrating the world we share.
The atrocities ICE is committing against our communities are not products of evidence-based policy. They’re expenditures of enormous taxpayer resources to achieve outcomes that run counter to public safety, economic stability, and community well-being. As an institution dedicated to scientific thinking, we cannot be silent when policy so fundamentally contradicts the evidence and runs counter to our deepest-held values.
The Science Museum of Minnesota and its staff stand with the people of Minnesota. Our doors remain open to our communities and to everyone affected by these events. We stand with you because you belong here.
