MINNEAPOLIS – Amid a clamor over his social media post against Black Lives Matter, Congressman Jim Hagedorn, who represents southern Minnesota, defended his comments as narrowed on a BLM leader. Said Hagedorn: ‘Several weeks ago, a national Black Lives Matter organizational leader encouraged the destruction of images of Jesus Christ and Christianity because, in his view, they represented white supremacy.” Hagedorn was responding to a query from television station WCCO in Minneapolis about criticism that followed his Facebook post. Hagedorn said he was motivated to write the post by something he saw from activist Shaun King,“I publicly responded by calling on the American people to reject such violence and destruction and stand up for America, our history, culture and the values we hold dear that make us the greatest country in the world,” Hagedorn said.“We are one nation, under God. I have and will continue to fight for liberty and equal justice under the law for every citizen of our country, no matter their race, religion or background, while rejecting extremist political rhetoric and tactics.” Although obscure in Washington as a first-term Congress member, Hagedorn, a Republican, suddenly became a target with reporting by editor Judd Legum of the political site Popular Information not only bout the Facebook post but also about a racist and homophobic record.
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