Business leaders urge de-escalation in Minnesota after shooting

Main Idea: Minnesota business leaders, including Target, Best Buy and UnitedHealth Group, urged state and federal officials to calm tensions after fatal shootings during a large immigration enforcement operation sparked protests.

Key Points:

• More than 60 CEOs signed an open letter calling for immediate de-escalation and cooperation among leaders at all levels of government.
• The letter said the state needs peace and a “swift and durable solution” so families, workers and businesses can get back to normal.
• The shootings and protests have made the issue hard for big Minnesota companies to ignore, after many had stayed quiet before.
• Officials and businesses say the immigration crackdown has hurt the economy, with some companies reporting sales drops as high as 80%.