BEMIDJI — Around 30 people gathered in the chapel of United Methodist for a community forum with Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison.
Ellison began the forum in Bemidji Tuesday, Oct. 7, going over some recent actions his office has taken on a federal level.
He said ever since President Donald Trump took office, he has been taking the administration to court over issues like the executive order purporting to end birthright citizenship, tariffs and state data privacy.
“It’s ironic that we’re taking this administration to court over states’ rights, given the history,” Ellison said, alluding to events such as the Civil War and the Civil Rights movement.
He said his office has helped facilitate the movement of $2 billion in federal funds to Minnesota after funding freezes.
He also said he remains committed to protecting the rights of all Minnesotans, regardless of race or gender identity.
"It's simply because I don't like bullies, and I don't like scapegoats, and I believe in liberty and justice for all, but all means all," he said to a round of applause.
Questions for Ellison ranged from how the office is responding to the National Guard being federalized in American cities, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents conducting masked raids and more.
Beltrami County Historical Society Executive Director Emily Thabes spoke to the federal funding cuts proposed to the Institute of Museum and Library Services and asked if there were plans for Minnesota to sue to restore funding.
"Institutions depend on IMLS for funding of digitization projects, education programming, and in some cases, operations,” she said.
The proposed federal cuts compound with local funding woes, as the local museum is also expecting to lose all of its funding from Beltrami County in 2026.
Ellison handed off the mic to Beltrami County Commissioner Joe Gould, who encouraged people to get involved on a local level.
“All these attacks that infiltrate our school system, into our state government, into our local government — we are facing a lot of threats right now from someone who wants to take over,” Gould said.
Ellison will host another community forum in Brainerd on Oct. 27.
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