It was a conversation cut short by emotion and temper.
On Tuesday afternoon (Sept. 20), area Muslim leaders and a pastor visited Treats Family Restaurant in an attempt to start a dialogue with owner Dan Ruedinger, and invited him to attend a service at the Faribault mosque, Abubakar As-Saddique Islamic Center.
Their invitation was cut short, one witness inside the building stated, as Ruedinger soon became agitated with the men and began shouting about his son’s service in Iraq and how he could not be a part of a “silent community” any longer.
Jaylani Hussein, executive director of the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN), Pastor Craig Breimhorst, of Faribault, and Bashir Abdi, from the Islamic center in Faribault, came to Lonsdale to speak with Ruedinger after media became flooded with stories about the sign in front of his restaurant containing the words: “MUSLIMS GET OUT IN SUPPORT OF ST CLOUD.”
“It was a short conversation. He did not agree,” Hussein later stated as he spoke with media outlets outside the restaurant. “We are here to talk to people; to start a dialogue. We wanted to talk to him about the sign and about issues.”
Hussein was asked why some people may see the words on the sign as hurtful. He said that Muslims have been a part of American history since the turn of the century, and a harmful act committed by an individual should not be put on an entire community.
“Hundreds and thousands of Muslims were shocked and appalled,” he said about the violence in St. Cloud. “These messages [on the sign] do not bring us together.”
Hussein added that he hopes they can come to an understanding with Ruedinger and said he does not feel everyone in Lonsdale shares Ruedinger’s views.
“This is not a reflection of this community,” he said. “People need to realize in these tragedies we need to come together. All leaders, faiths and groups.”
Hussein said that although he was glad there were peaceful protests against the sign’s message, he hopes those who know Ruedinger will speak to him, have a conversation with him and connect with him.
“Dialogue is important,” Hussein reiterated. “We’ll continue to reach out.”