Last weekend, our state experienced an unimaginable tragedy when a gunman killed Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, and seriously wounded Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette.

Minnesota state troopers, in partnership with local, state, and federal partners, have the suspect in custody.

Representative Melissa Hortman worked alongside Representative Rena Moran and Representative Esther Agbaje to finally find a pathway for passing the Minnesota African American Family Preservation and Child Welfare Disproportionality Act (MAAFPACWDA). She also appointed Rep. Moran as Chair of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, the first person of color to chair that committee.

Senator John Hoffman has long been a respected and deeply valued member of the Cultural and Ethnic Communities Leadership Council (CECLC) and has supported the mission and vision of OBFF. His passionate and unwavering advocacy for the council’s and Agency’s mission—to reduce disparities and promote equity across communities—has strengthened our collective voice. In addition, Senator Hoffman serves as co-vice chair of the Legislative Task Force on Child Protection. His commitment to systems change and the amplification of diverse community perspectives has had meaningful impact on our work and the lives of countless Minnesotans.

We wish to extend a heartfelt thank you the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, including the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the State Patrol, and Capitol Security, for their continued diligence in keeping employees and the public safe. We also want to thank the hundreds of local, state and federal officials for their efforts to keep Minnesotans safe.

Thank you for your dedication and resilience as we ensure the commitment to public service exemplified by Speaker Emerita Hortman and Senator Hoffman continues in all of us.

Rep. Hortman and her husband Mark, along with their dog Gilbert, will lie in state at the Capitol on Friday, June 27, from 12:00 - 5:00pm. Read more details from the Minnesota Star Tribune.