MNSPJ responds to protest targeting WCCO reporter Liz Collin

The MNSPJ said it supported the protesters' First Amendment rights but considered destroying an effigy of Collin on her property "a direct threat against her as a journalist."

"In this current climate, journalists have been regularly disparaged and threatened while doing their jobs, and many have dealt with the abuse quietly while they proceed with their important work," the MNSPJ stated. "We encourage the general public to use respectful and peaceful means to communicate dissatisfaction with journalists’ coverage, such as contacting them or their supervisors directly or demonstrating outside of their place of work, rather than using threats and intimidation to attack them personally."

DFL House candidate John Thompson has also come under attack for his inflammatory speech at the rally in which he appears to berate a group of teenage girls.

DFL House candidate facing backlash for BLM rally behavior