In another time of war, Minnesota suspended civil liberties

by Dan Olson, Minnesota Public Radio
July 4, 2005

St. Paul, Minn. — In 1917, the state created the Commission on Public Safety. The seven-member commission was appointed by Gov. J.A.A. Burnquist. The commission was all-powerful and reported only to itself. The members suspended civil rights, set up an armed militia and created a network of spies.

Minnesota business leaders supported the move because of their own agenda. They worried about how union organizers and striking workers were affecting their businesses, and they were counting on the commission to keep workers in line.

Retired University of Minnesota history professor Hy Berman says whenever he tells people about the Minnesota Commission on Public Safety, many don't believe it could happen here. He says the commission presided over a reign of terror.

"A reign of terror that wiped out civil liberties, wiped out freedom of expression, wiped out freedom of association -- that created a kind of climate where, in fact, it ruled by force," Berman says. <snip>

http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2005/07/04_olsond_safety/

where it can be nominated for the Greatest page.

People need to be reminded every day that America is not immune to this sort of thing which is why it is patriotic to question and protest and unamerican to follow blindly and disparage those who do question and protest.