GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. � A weekend fire at a Golden Valley office building
that serves as headquarters for multiple conservative organizations is
being investigated as an act of arson.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) tells KARE 11 that the
agency is looking into the fire that damaged the interior of the multi-
story building at 8421 Wayzata Blvd., along with investigators from the
Golden Valley Fire Department, State Fire Marshal's office and the FBI.

"Since it is still an ongoing investigation we are limited what we can add
for detail," said ATF spokesperson Ashlee Sherrill.

The building houses the Center for the American Experiment, the Upper
Midwest Law Center and Take Charge, all organizations that promote
conservative values. In a news release sent out Friday, UMLC Senior
Counsel James Dickey called the fires a "deliberate act" and said
employees will be working remotely for the foreseeable future as a
precautionary measure.

�We will not be intimidated by this apparent act of domestic terrorism.
Our resolve to uphold justice and protect the rights of Minnesotans
remains unyielding. Despite the setback, the Upper Midwest Law Center will
continue to champion the values of fairness, equality and freedom for
all,� said Dickey in a written statement.

"The fires obviously were set by someone,� added John Hinderaker,
President of Center of the American Experiment. �They targeted
conservative organizations, they didn�t firebomb the chiropractors or
psychologists or the Manufacturers Alliance. We are cooperating with the
FBI to try to identify the perpetrators.�

Hinderaker says the fires started outside the first-floor offices of
American Experiment and TakeCharge, and inside the third-floor offices of
UMLC. Pictures and video show extensive damage inside the suites including
charred and gutted hallways, offices and equipment.

The three-story building houses a variety of small businesses in addition
to the three conservative policy organizations.

While they have confirmed an arson investigation, authorities haven't
announced the arrest of suspects or a potential motive.

KARE 11's Lou Raguse is following this story and will have details on
tonight's broadcasts and kare11.com.

https://www.kare11.com/article/news/crime/atf-investigating-fire-damaged-
offices-of-conservative-causes-as-arson-center-for-american-experiment-
upper-midwest-law-center/89-b78c913a-f225-4d8f-b635-b2fbfd4d7967

Awww ... just a "peaceful protest" !!!!