“Domestic terrorism” is suspected after a fire broke out this week in the shared offices of three conservative groups in Golden Valley, a Minneapolis suburb.
The incident, which caused significant damage to the space housing the Center for the American Experiment, Upper Midwest Law Center (UMLC), and TakeCharge, is under investigation as suspected arson by federal authorities. As of yet, no arrests have been made, nor has a motive been determined.
The affected building hosts a range of small businesses; however, representatives from the conservative organizations believe they were the intended targets of the attack. John Hinderaker, president of the conservative think tank Center for the American Experiment, asserted that the arsonist had specifically chosen to set fires at their offices rather than at other businesses located in the same building, like chiropractic or psychology practices.
According to the American Experiment, “The fires occurred around 2:00 am on Sunday morning and were started outside the first-floor offices of American Experiment and TakeCharge, and in the third-floor offices of UMLC. The second floor has no visible fire damage. The three-story building houses a variety of small businesses in addition to the three conservative policy organizations.”
“It is extremely concerning that we may have been the target of an arson attack, constituting an act of domestic terrorism,” Kendall Qualls, president of TakeCharge, said before offering a theory as to why they had been allegedly attacked.
Authorities, including the ATF’s St. Paul field division, have confirmed the ongoing investigation into the cause of the blaze but have yet to provide comments on the details. The fires, as reported by the American Experiment, appear to have started both outside their ground-floor office and within UMLC’s third-floor space while sparing the second level from notable fire damage.
Qualls expressed concern over the possibility that the fire represents an act of domestic terrorism. He speculated that the arson was politically motivated, prompted by TakeCharge’s stance against systemic racism narratives. Qualls criticized the lack of broad media attention that might have been more forthcoming if TakeCharge espoused views aligned with left-leaning ideologies.
Despite the attack, Qualls reaffirmed his organization’s determination to continue its work, emphasizing their unique position in promoting solutions such as rebuilding the two-parent family structure and expanding school choice in black communities.
