Key Takeaways
- The Somali community in Minneapolis has faced threatening phone calls, harassment, and bullying on social media after a conservative content creator accused day care centers of fraud.
- The backlash has disrupted daily life for day care providers, who are now fielding an influx of phone calls and threats while trying to calm fearful parents and children.
- The Somali community has been feeling a climate of fear and anxiety after President Donald Trump called the community "garbage" and sent immigration enforcement agents to the state.
- Activists in the Somali community are adamant about protecting the image of Somali people and emphasize that bad actors are in the minority.
- The community is calling for accountability for those who commit fraud, but not collective punishment for the entire community.
Introduction to the Issue
The Somali community in Minneapolis is facing a difficult time after a conservative content creator, Nick Shirley, posted a video accusing day care centers in the community of fraud. The video has led to threatening phone calls, harassment, and bullying on social media, causing a climate of fear and anxiety among residents of Somali descent. Fardowsa Ali, owner of Albi Kitchen, a Somali restaurant in Minneapolis, has seen a decline in business and has received threatening phone calls, including one from a man who said he would come to her restaurant and break everything.
The Impact on Day Care Centers
The allegations of fraud have disrupted daily life for day care providers, who are now fielding an influx of phone calls and threats while trying to calm fearful parents and children. Kassim Busuri, owner of a day care facility near Minneapolis, has seen a significant increase in phone calls, with people asking questions about enrollment, hours of operation, and availability. However, Busuri believes that these calls are not from genuinely interested parents, but rather from people who are trying to distract his team from their work. The Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families has visited the child care centers at the center of the fraud allegations and found that they were operating as expected, with the exception of one that was not yet open for families.
The Somali Community in Minnesota
The Somali community in Minnesota has been growing for about 30 years, with many immigrants finding the state appealing due to job opportunities at meatpacking plants in rural areas. The Minneapolis-St. Paul area is now home to about 84,000 people of Somali descent, making it the largest population in the United States. However, the community has been facing backlash and discrimination, particularly after President Donald Trump called the community "garbage" and sent immigration enforcement agents to the state. Activists in the Somali community are adamant about protecting the image of Somali people and emphasize that bad actors are in the minority.
The Response from the Community
Activists in the Somali community are calling for accountability for those who commit fraud, but not collective punishment for the entire community. Khalid Omar, a community organizer with the non-profit ISAIAH, believes that Shirley’s video has only incited hate and "scapegoated" the Somali community. Edward Ahmed Mitchell, national deputy director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said that condemning and attacking an entire community for the alleged criminal behaviors of a small group is "pure racism." Jaylani Hussein, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations’ Minnesota chapter, said that the climate of fear is disrupting livelihoods, separating families, and undermining the sense of safety and belonging for an entire community.
The Need for Accountability and Protection
The Somali community is calling for protection and accountability, not just for those who commit fraud, but also for those who are being targeted and harassed. The community is emphasizing that they are not any more involved in criminal behavior or fraud than any other group, and that the bad actors are in the minority. The community is also calling for an end to the climate of fear and anxiety that has been created by the allegations of fraud and the backlash from Shirley’s video. The community is seeking to rebuild trust and to create a sense of safety and belonging, and is calling on state officials to fully investigate the allegations of fraud and to hold those who are responsible accountable.