Nathan Gustavsson of Hermantown

David Beard Nov 30, 2015 9 Comments

Since the shooting in the Twin Cities at the Black Lives Matter protest, it was revealed that one of the suspects is from Hermantown.

Nearly 1,000 people marched to City Hall on Tuesday, less than a day after five protesters were shot near a Black Lives Matter demonstration, an apparently racially motivated attack that pushed Minneapolis into the national spotlight.

Minneapolis police said Tuesday that they have arrested three men in connection with the shooting. Allen Lawrence “Lance” Scarsella III, 23, was arrested in Bloomington. Sources said Nathan Gustavsson, 21, of Hermantown, and Daniel Macey, 26, of Pine City, were taken into custody after they turned themselves in. All three suspects are white. Earlier Tuesday, police arrested a 32-year-old Hispanic man in south Minneapolis, but he was later released because, police said, he was not at the scene of the shooting.

—Minneapolis Star Tribune: 3 men in custody, 1 released in Minneapolis 4th Precinct protest shooting

A friend of mine in the Cities wanted to know how that revelation played out up here.  To be honest, his question was the first I’d heard.

Thoughts?

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9 Comments

TimK

about 9 years ago 

The stereotypes that I grew up with suggest that when a politically right leaning person has had enough of the liberal DFL conspiracy that runs Duluth, they buy some swamp land out in Hermantown and build as much of a McMansion as they can afford -- and thank god the taxes are lower there. In addition, you move outside the confines of Duluth in order to get away from Big Brother's watchful eye. Need to beat your wife or brainwash your kids? Homeschool 'em in Hermantown! Can't recruit enough of your neighbors for that bulk purchase of "prepper" supplies? Move to Hermantown! This is obviously not true, but that's what the gas-huffers say.

hbh1

about 9 years ago 

I think the main reaction I've seen has been a noted lack of surprise. 

I remember a time in the late 1990s-early 2000s when there was some racial tension at Central HS between the Hillside kids and kids who called themselves  "hicks," who lived in rural Duluth and wore Carhartts and just generally openly declared their racist sentiments. I don't remember if it made the news or if I just knew about it because it was a topic amongst teachers and people who deal with kids. There were fights, and other less violent incidents. Some would say that this conflict was one (maybe minor) contributing factor for the reason Central no longer exists. 

Recall that a noose was drawn around the neck of a Denfeld student last year in a photo and passed around via social media. As I understand it, the consequences for that have been minimal. So while Hermantown is very white, I wouldn't have been surprised if any of these young men had been from anywhere.

Seth Langreck

about 9 years ago 

Although I lived in the Duluth area for only two years, this type of cultural and class tension appears to be found throughout the greater Midwest.  Since I moved from Duluth last year, it's nice to see that someone tries to talk about an elephant in the room openly.  Good job PDD users! 

With the last comment, "So while Hermantown is very white, I wouldn't have been surprised if any of these young men had been from anywhere," I see the connection. I am wondering if we have reached a tipping point where once polite "it's okay to be racist, as long as I keep it in doors," boils over to outward actions of aggression.  The Twin Cities shootings, on their whole, seem to stop genuine actions of growth and promote a continual "us vs. them" conflict (or at least from the media angle).  

So, has there been a lack of surprise overall? Or just in this anecdotal  message board?

pats

about 9 years ago 

I remember the Central High School "hicks" stories too.  It must have been covered in the media since I didn't know anyone connected to education or Central at that time. Those racist situations are not uncommon (sadly), but I don't know that it's ever been as blatant here before.  I also have had the impression that one attraction to Hermantown is the mainly white Christian population and getting away from the liberal politics of Duluth.   I don't think any of those stories are mere legend or speculation, there seems to be evidence all around.

marko3133

about 9 years ago 

Is Gustavsson part of an organized group? If so, what's the name of it?

DaVe

about 9 years ago 

Those guys could have been from anywhere- the Deep South, the Deep North, wherever.

hbh1

about 9 years ago 

I think that Gustavsson may have known at least one of these guys at the community college he went to, but it appears that they organized their little nightmare on 4chan. (I can't find the mention of the college, but it's not a local one.) 

I'm afraid that this is only the beginning of (what is a usual, historically cyclical) backlash against angry black folks standing up and saying ENOUGH. Basically, Trump is the last legal recourse the wingnuts have, and when he loses, the only thing they'll have is terrorism. Which is fucking scary as hell.

hbh1

about 9 years ago 

And as far as being part of an organized group, I'd say no. Because groups with mailing lists and whatnot are kind of passé when all you have to do is find your gun-toting buddies online, daring each other to back up their hate speech with "real action."

pats

about 9 years ago 

I think HBH1 is right.  This is a result of hate speech from people (like Donald Trump), who seem to give license to this kind of action.  And they don't need an organized group - they find each other on line.  No need any longer for secret meetings or any other form of communication.  They know what they want and they know how to grab a gun and take action.  What they don't know is why they feel as they do, because I don't think there is logic behind such behavior.  Just fear and hate.

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