Minnesota Nurses Association members created “hostile environment” at DECC

DULUTH, Min. – The Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC) says Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) members created a “hostile environment” in the facility where security had to be called.

A statement from the DECC says an incident happened on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, around noon at its Harbor Side Convention facility.

The DECC statement says, “Reports from DECC staff and video surveillance confirm that a large group with the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) confronted attendees of the Essentia Health Leadership Conference who had rented space on our campus.”

Both organization had rented space at the facility.

It was the second day both organizations were renting separate spaces within the DECC campus.

The DECC statement says continues to say, “The MNA group engaged in unapproved protest activity near the conference location of Essentia Health, which was not communicated to DECC staff in advance.  During the protest, chants and shouting were directed at conference attendees, creating a verbally hostile environment. Essentia attendees, including administrative fellows, were followed and harassed by members of MNA as they tried to leave the DECC.”

During these actions a DECC staff member activated an emergency alert via radio, triggering the facility’s internal safety protocols.

DECC Logo on Harborside Convention Center

DECC says their staff tried to de-escalate the situation.

The statement says, “Some MNA individuals were observed yelling profanities at a DECC staff member—behavior that is unacceptable.”

The DECC statement said, “In the DECC’s nearly 60- year history, this marks the first time one renting group has disrupted the activities of another.”

The DECC is now reviewing its internal policies and procedures, “to ensure the safety and comfort of all guests.”

The statement said, “While the DECC supports the right to peaceful assembly and free expression, all protest activity must ensure the safety and comfort of all staff and guests and the events of last week did not meet that standard… In this case, the lack of prior notice and the nature of the protest activity by MNA infringed upon the rights of Essentia Health and its employees.”

The Minnesota Nurses Association released a statement to FOX21 regarding the incident and admitted they were chanting and trying to make Essentia executives uncomfortable.

The statement said they disagreed with the DECC’s chaotization of the event.  It said  “Minnesota Nurses Association members who were at the DECC for their annual convention, led a peaceful demonstration, that lasted less than ten-minutes, outside an Essentia Health Leadership meeting also at the DECC… The very purpose of chanting during this protest was to make healthcare executives uncomfortable about their own unethical behavior.”

The full MNA Statement is below:

After more than 445 days of illegal union-busting and retaliation against Advanced Practice Providers, Minnesota Nurses Association members who were at the DECC for their annual convention, led a peaceful demonstration, that lasted less than ten-minutes, outside an Essentia Health Leadership meeting also at the DECC. This protest follows several others, including an Unfair Labor Practice Strike in July as well as petitions inside of Essentia Health related to Essentia’s refusal to discipline management team members who threatened to run over protesters with a vehicle and shoot them with a paintball gun. 

We disagree and are disappointed with the DECC’s mischaracterization of the event. The DECC should make changes to internal policies without inserting themselves in a dispute between an employer and their workforce.

Essentia’s attempt to shift focus toward a short protest and vilify healthcare providers and nurses, rather than address its own unlawful actions, is a distraction. The very purpose of chanting during this protest was to make healthcare executives uncomfortable about their own unethical behavior. Essentia Health should feel shame for continuing to break the law, disrespecting, and retaliating against these dedicated workers. The reality is that Essentia continues to ignore the lawful unionization of its providers and the rights of its workers — and to smear nurses and APPs — causing direct harm to patients and the community at large. 

MNA members will continue to protest Essentia leadership as long as they allow this type of retaliation and continue to ignore the National Labor Relations Board’s ruling demanding they begin bargaining.

Essentia has not responded to FOX21 with a comment regarding the incident.