Statement from Phillip C. Parrish, Candidate for Governor of Minnesota
June 15, 2025
The tragic assassination of Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, and the wounding of Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, have shaken Minnesota to its core. My heart goes out to their families, and I join all Minnesotans in praying for the Hoffmans’ recovery. But as we grieve, we must demand answers about the forces behind this heinous act—and why certain groups are scrambling to cover their tracks.
Minnesota Africans United (MAU) issued a peculiar press release yesterday, hastily distancing itself from Vance Boelter, the identified suspect in these targeted shootings. MAU claims Boelter merely attended a single virtual webinar in 2022, yet the speed and specificity of their statement raise serious questions. Why the rush to disavow a man they claim had no significant role? Reports circulating on X suggest Boelter was once prominently featured on MAU’s website, possibly as a CEO or affiliate, with his profile conveniently removed after the shootings. This smells like damage control, not transparency. MAU’s close ties to DFL leaders like Governor Tim Walz and Senator Tina Smith, coupled with their advocacy for policies favoring undocumented immigrants, suggest they fear being linked to Boelter’s motives—motives the media and DFL establishment are desperate to obscure.
The truth they’re avoiding is this: Melissa Hortman and John Hoffman were not random victims. They were the only DFL lawmakers who dared to step away from their party’s radical agenda, particularly on funding undocumented immigrants at the expense of Minnesota’s hardworking citizens. Their courage in breaking ranks made them targets, yet MAU and the legacy media, like ABC News, conveniently ignore this fact. Instead, they peddle an unverified “hit list” narrative, hyping a supposed threat to dozens of Democrats to distract from the real issue: the DFL’s divisive policies and failure to condemn the violent undertones of “No Kings” rallies, whose fliers were found in Boelter’s vehicle.
MAU’s attempt to distance itself from Boelter isn’t just about protecting their reputation—it’s about shielding the DFL machine that props them up. Their silence on Hortman and Hoffman’s policy divergence speaks volumes. Were they afraid Boelter’s actions were a reaction to the DFL’s unchecked agenda? Minnesotans deserve to know the full extent of Boelter’s ties to MAU and whether their advocacy fueled tensions that led to this tragedy. Hiding behind a vague press release won’t cut it.
As your next governor, I will demand transparency and accountability from organizations like MAU and the DFL establishment. We cannot heal until we confront the root causes of this violence—radical policies that divide us and a political class that buries inconvenient truths. I call on MAU to fully disclose Boelter’s involvement with their organization and on the media to stop spinning narratives that protect the powerful. Minnesotans deserve a leader who will face the truth head-on, not one who hides behind press releases or party loyalty. Together, we can build a Minnesota that prioritizes unity, safety, and the will of its people.
Phillip C. Parrish
Candidate for Governor of Minnesota, 2026
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