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Those familiar with Minnesota's past find little surprise in our state's contentious political atmosphere. Divisive politics go back to the very origins of the state in the 19th century and still imprint the diversity of our discourse. As Minnesota historian and author Rhoda Gilman attests, we should cherish our heritage and recognize echoes of Minnesota's rich history cropping up in contemporary protest movements.
Gilman is author of "Stand Up: The Story of Minnesota's Protest Tradition", published in 2012 by Minnesota Historical Society Press, which "connects the dots" of protest movements from the abolitionists, the 1934 truckers' strikes, up to precursors of the Occupy Wall Street movement.