Minnesota state Sen. Ron Latz, a Democrat, on Tuesday urged Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and his state Senate colleague, Omar Fateh, to call off plans for an appearance with far-left streamer Hasan Piker next week, and called on fellow members of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party to speak out.

Latz and the DFL Feminist Caucus, which issued its own statement on Tuesday, join an emerging backlash to the event. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN), the DFL Jewish Caucus and the local Jewish Community Relations Council previously spoke out.

Latz, a DFL member who is Jewish, said that he is “deeply disturbed” by Omar and Fateh’s plans to host Piker, highlighting Piker’s history of antisemitic and otherwise offensive comments. “It is unacceptable to give this purveyor of hate speech a platform to spread his hateful messages,” Latz said. “It is also unacceptable to tolerate those who give him a platform to do it.” 

While praising those who have spoken out clearly, he questioned “where are the other voices” and criticized Fateh and Omar for not listening to those who have spoken out thus far. “I urge all Minnesotans to stand together in rejecting Mr. Piker’s hateful messages. And Senator Fateh and Congresswoman Omar should not lend him their platform.”

Latz said that he is not concerned by what Piker might say, but rather by the message that the invitation itself sends, arguing that inviting him “lends credibility” to Piker’s views. 

He said Democrats must call out hate on their own side and that “[f]ailing to do so is dangerous,” adding that “[a]ll Minnesotans of good conscience … should join in condemning his appearance and rejecting his hate.”

The DFL’s Feminist Caucus issued its own statement on Tuesday opposing the event as well.

“We are bound in principle to denounce the reckless, dehumanizing, hateful and inflammatory rhetoric of [Hasan] Piker. That is why we strongly oppose a joint appearance of Mr. Piker with U.S. Rep. Omar and Minnesota [state Sen.] Omar Fateh,” the caucus said. “Such an appearance would be deeply divisive within both our party and the broader community.”

The Feminist Caucus argued that the “last thing we need in the Twin Cities is yet another divisive episode” and urged Omar and Fateh to call off the event “and pursue instead ways to unite, rather than divide, our community.”