Leaders renew call for political advocacy
Somali Day at the State Capitol returned for its second year on April 16, with dozens of community leaders, entrepreneurs, and advocates gathering with their representatives to spotlight legislative reforms relevant to the Somali community in Minnesota.
Undeterred by a torrential downpour of rain, members of the Somali community came together in the afternoon under the rotunda of the State Capitol building to hear from elected officials representing communities in the metro and greater Minnesota.
Organized by the Somali American Coalition (SAC), Somali Day at the Capitol aims to address issues pertinent to the needs of the state’s Somali diaspora and serves as a platform for several other organizations to spotlight legislation in the current session.
Nimco Ahmed, a founding member of SAC, gave the opening remarks at the capitol building. “For us to gather here today and hold prayer has a big meaning,” she said to the crowd. “We thought establishing an organization such as Somali American Coalition will actually help those organizations that are actually serving our community.”
Ahmed highlighted SAC’s past actions since its founding over a year ago. She shared that they had set a legislative agenda in early 2023 and met with Governor Tim Walz and Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan last March. She also shared that SAC had advocated for legislation such as the Teachers of Color Act, Paid Family and Medical Leave, interest-free homebuyers, and anti-crime bills.
Sheikh Ahmed Anshur, a member of SAC and local mosque leader, stated that Somali Day at the State Capitol allowed the community to coordinate their messaging and discuss imperative issues with elected officials.
Anshur stressed the importance of advocating for social and economic justice at the capitol and crafting legislation allowing the community to achieve economic mobility. He underscored the fact that Somalis often go into business for themselves and have been impacted by negative stigma due to recent cases of fraud and mismanagement by members of the community.
“We’re entrepreneurs naturally, and we’ve been discouraged by recent actions by the state,” he said. “We feel in our community that there is extra scrutiny, and we’re not supported.”
Anshur referred to an incident in recent years in which 14 Somali daycare businesses were shut down on the same day. Instead of this scrutiny and discrimination, Anshur proposed that the state should provide more opportunities for guidance and training for community members who have an entrepreneurial spirit but may be overwhelmed when navigating the different levels of compliance red tape.
Several politicians stopped by the rotunda to offer their remarks to the crowd and share their enthusiasm for the Somali community’s involvement in politics at an organized level.
Rep. Hodan Hassan (DFL-62B) took to the podium as she was joined by her colleagues Rep. Jay Xiong (DFL-67B) and Rep. Liz Lee (DFL-67A).
“I need you guys to make this building your second home and to get comfortable today,” Hassan said, encouraging the crowd. “You are in your house, and we are your employees, and we work for you. I want you to remember that and take that with you today.”
Hodan, who chairs the House Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee, stated that it was important for those in the community to have an active hand in shaping policy by engaging their representatives.
“All of us make decisions about you and your life. How your children will be educated, how your businesses are run, how your health will be decided. Wouldn’t you want whoever is making decisions about your life to know what they’re doing and to hold them accountable?” she asked the crowd.
Senator Aric Putnam (DFL-14) also took the stage and addressed members of the Somali community with welcoming words of encouragement. “Politics is about relationships and about showing up, and being here to give a speech means nothing,” he said. “I can give you a speech. I can tell you how grateful I am that you’re here, but if I’m not in your community, I don’t mean it.”
Putnam quoted Frederick Douglass in his address stating, “Without struggle there is no progress,” underlining the difficult nature of political advocacy, but also its benefits.
“Politics is not just about elections,” Putnam said. “It’s about making communities stronger every single day, and Americans are not where we began. We are what we become,”
Other elected officials who spoke at Somali Day at the State Capitol include Senator Jim Abeler (R-35), Senator Nicole Mitchell (DFL-47), Senator Susan Pha (DFL-38), Rep. Dave Baker (DFL-16B), Rep. Kim Hicks (DFL-25A), and Rep. Debra Kiel (R-01B).
The presence of both Republican and Democratic elected officials showcased the bipartisan nature of several issues impacting the Somali community and their presence in several districts across the state.
There were several Somali organizations present at the capitol as well, including the Minnesota Somali Community Center, Minnesota Somali Resettlement Services, Inspire Change Clinic, and disability and autism advocacy groups.
Support Black local news
Help amplify Black voices by donating to the MSR. Your contribution enables critical coverage of issues affecting the community and empowers authentic storytelling.