Anti-Semitic letter condemned

03/29/2006

Rachel E. Stassen-Berger
Pioner Press
March 28, 2006

House and Senate leaders Tuesday harshly condemned a virulently anti-Semitic letter lawmakers received this week.

“It deeply saddens me that this malicious and hateful language has infiltrated the Minnesota State Capitol Building,” Senate Majority Leader Dean Johnson, DFL-Willmar, said.

“The offensive stereotypes of Jews and the age-old anti-Semitic canards contained within the mailing are shocking and do not have a place in Minnesota or anywhere,” said House Speaker Steve Sviggum, R-Kenyon.

The rambling nine-page letter, sent by members of the small Gainesville, Mo.-based Winrod Group, accuses Jews of being sex offenders, murderers and liars. Most House and Senate members received it Monday.

The Winrod Group also sent similar letters to lawmakers in Iowa and Colorado this week, according to the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas.