by Dennis Dalman
A Sartell resident asked the city council to “extricate” itself from having anything to do with groups and organizations that he considers to be federally intrusive and unconstitutional.
The man, Peter Wilson, spoke during the Open Forum portion of the council meeting, which allows speakers up to three minutes each to voice concerns or raise issues. Per council rules, council members are not allowed to comment or act upon remarks or requests made during the Open Forum sessions.
“I just want to thank the police department,” said Wilson in his opening statement. “They’ve done a good job.” He said it has been his long-time endeavor to support the police and keep them (police) independent, free from federal authority.
Wilson described himself as a proud long-time member (since 1981) of the John Birch Society. That organization, founded in 1958, is a right-wing political advocacy group that supports social conservatism and anti-communism.
Groups that Wilson warned the city council about are the League of Minnesota Cities, Sourcewell and International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives.
Such groups, Wilson said, are driven and controlled by entities that “don’t belong here.” They function, he said, through abridgements to freedom and silent encroachments.
The League of Minnesota Cities, Wilson claimed, denies public speaking at some of their meetings and during a 2018 meeting of the League in Alexandria, it expressed a verbally “brutal racist” attack against Whites, Wilson maintained.
Sourcewell, based in Staples, offers cooperative purchasing and other services to help government, education and nonprofits function more efficiently.
ICLEI, founded in Toronto, Canada, is a non-governmental organization that promotes sustainable developments and promotes ways to protect the environment to prevent further climate change.
Wilson said he is opposed to “green-step efforts” (environmental efforts) made by such groups because he believes they are intrusive, anti-American and unconstitutional – infringements on freedom.
He urged the city council to extricate itself from any cooperation with such groups. The council members, as per rules, did not comment on Wilson’s remarks.
