Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN) and Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon on Wednesday joined the chorus of Democrats speaking out against Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and state Sen. Omar Fateh’s planned event in Minneapolis with Hasan Piker, set to take place next week.

“We shouldn’t only condemn bigotry when it’s politically convenient. We as Democrats need to hold ourselves to the same standards that we hold the right,” Frey said in a statement shared with Jewish Insider. 

“We should support Ilhan when a politically motivated Department of Justice is weaponized against her,” he said, referring to the Trump administration’s investigation into Rep. Ilhan Omar’s (D-MN) immigration history, which included an FBI raid of her Washington home this month. “But a voting strategy that relies on excusing hateful rhetoric against Jews should be no more acceptable than a strategy relying on hate against any other community.” 

His comments appear to reference Omar’s campaign’s explanation for the event, which is to turn out young voters.

“Early voting among people under 40 is down, and we need to do everything to get young people to the polls,” Omar’s campaign spokesperson told the local Fox affiliate. “The Congresswoman knows the Democratic Party is a big tent party, and she’s excited to join Senator Omar Fateh’s event to mobilize young voters and get them to vote in this critical midterm election.”

McCollum and Simon also spoke out on Wednesday in statements to local outlet TC Jewfolk.

“Minnesotans stand united against hate in all its forms. Hasan Piker has used hate-filled, incendiary rhetoric that divides Americans and his presence in Minnesota is not welcome,” McCollum, herself a vocal critic of Israel, said in a statement. “I am committed to strengthening community, uniting people, and rejecting hate — from anyone. Following the pain and harm inflicted on Minnesota by ICE’s Metro Surge, as well as President Trump’s vicious attacks on our vibrant Somali American community, now is the time for Minnesotans to seek common ground in healing, standing with our neighbors, and elevating human dignity.”

Simon, who is Jewish, also condemned Piker, in strident terms.

“Too often, Hasan Piker has said things that are hateful and bigoted. Minnesota doesn’t need that,” Simon said. “Jews have been a particular target of his wrath. It’s ugly and unacceptable. His poisonous rhetoric should be condemned, not elevated.”

State Reps. Larry Kraft and Cheryl Youakim, who jointly represent the 46th legislative district in Hennepin County, also spoke out.

“Hasan Piker has a record of using antisemitic rhetoric, including expressing support for Hamas. His recent comments, appearing to condone violence against American Jews who support Israel, are reckless, and put our Jewish neighbors at risk. We should be denouncing this kind of rhetoric, rather than inviting it into Minnesota politics,” Kraft said. “It’s unacceptable and dangerous to stoke hate — even more so when you have a large public platform.”

He said that elected officials “should be focused on how we can help support our neighbors, rather than amplifying rhetoric that inflames tensions.”

Youakim added that violent rhetoric “has no place in civil discourse. We have experienced firsthand in Minnesota what violent rhetoric against political leaders, specific groups in our communities, and toward those you may not agree with can lead to. We need to learn to disagree without using dangerous rhetoric and work to see each other as human beings.”

The group joins Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN), the local Jewish Community Relations Council, the Anti-Defamation League, the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party’s Jewish and Feminist Caucuses and state Sen. Ron Latz in denouncing Piker and the event.

Gov. Tim Walz, Lt. Gov Peggy Flanagan and Attorney General Keith Ellison have not yet addressed the event.