Jewish and Ukrainian organizations held a press conference Thursday displaying a united front in defense of their native countries.
Alexandra, a Ukrainian and former Israeli resident, shared an update about her loved ones in Israel.
"My childhood friend's spouse is an archaeologist in Israel and he is sifting through the rubble looking for the tiniest pieces of the remains of the civilians that were brutally tortured and murdered by Hamas terrorists on October 7th," she explained.
State Senator Ron Latz (DFL-St. Louis Park), who is Jewish, is pointing out a rise in antisemitism in the U.S.
"Reports of anti Jewish hate acts have spiked over 400% over this month last year," says Latz. "That's scary and personal to me as a Jew."
Antisemitism in the US is reaching "historic levels" in the wake of violence in Israel and Gaza, FBI Director Christopher Wray has warned. Speaking to a senate panel on Tuesday, Wray said 60% of all religious-based hate crimes targeted Jewish people. He added that the figure had likely increased amid anger caused by the ongoing violence in Gaza.
The two groups say they condemn acts of hate against both the Jewish and Muslim communities. The Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota also spoke out in defense of Israel amid the conflict with Hamas.
Latz spoke about the response and protests seen across the U.S. since the conflict began.
"I don't understand the silence in some quarters," Latz explained. "Or the compulsion to say it is somehow understandable or justifiable, by the history of the region. With student walkouts, and capitol rallies."
Meanwhile, hundreds took to downtown Minneapolis streets Wednesday night to voice their opposition for the Biden administration's policies on Palestine and the war in the Middle East.
"I'm just here to show support to Palestine, and I want to stop funding genocide," one of the protestors told WCCO's Taylor Rivera.
The group rallied outside the Minneapolis Federal Building and denounced Biden's proposed $14 billion in military aid for Israel. They're also asking Biden to call for an immediate end to Israeli bombing in Gaza.
Minnesota's Muslim leaders spoke out earlier in the day saying they won't support Biden's re-election after giving him a deadline last week to call for a ceasefire. Biden was in Minnesota visiting a farm in Northfield where he spoke about the Administration's investments in his "Rural America Plan".