Minnesota Capitol hosts 3rd annual Somali Day with rally in support of embattled community

Dozens of people gathered at the Minnesota State Capitol Monday for the third annual Somali Day celebration.

After a morning news conference, more than 100 people gathered inside the Capitol Rotunda for a rally. 

"Like any immigrant community, Somali Americans came here seeking safety, opportunity and a future," said community activist Malika Dahir. "We worked hard, built businesses, raised families and became an integral part of the fabric of this state."   

Leaders talked about the impact of Operation Metro Surge on Somali businesses, and the Trump Administration pushing to end temporary protected status for Somalis in Minnesota.

"There is nothing this president and his government can do to us that we cannot survive," said DFL state Sen. Zaynab Mohamed.

Attorney Abdisalam Mumin says the negative rhetoric following the Feeding our Future fraud and indictments is unfair to the majority of Somali Minnesotans, and he's hoping to help change that.

"That is a true narrative that should be pushed out. A few bad apples should not be cause for an over-generalization for the entire community," Mumin said.

State Sen. Jim Abeler, a Republican who has shown support for Somali Minnesotans, was also on hand, as well as Democratic state Sen. John Hoffman, who was shot multiple times inside his home last June in a politically motivated attack. 

"This is a moment in Minnesota where we need independence, but yet we need resilience, and we need unity," Hoffman said.

Twenty-four coalitions from different organizations across the state took part in Monday's event.