Press Release: MN Chapters of the DSA Condemn Escalating Zenophobic Attacks Against Our Somali and Immigrant Communities
We, the undersigned DSA chapters of the State of Minnesota, denounce and strongly condemn the escalation of xenophobic rhetoric that the Trump administration is intentionally directing at our communities. The President’s recent othering and dehumanizing of Minnesota's Somali communities encourages violence, both from his supporters and the violent and unaccountable national security state.
Minnesota is stronger because of our Somali and other immigrant communities. Immigrants are our friends, co-workers, teachers, community leaders, and more. As Minnesotans, we know who we are and we won’t fall for dishonest actors spreading disinformation and hateful, divisive rhetoric about our immigrant neighbors. No Minnesotan should feel unsafe or unwelcome because of their faith, heritage, or background. We stand in solidarity with our Somali and immigrant neighbors, and the Minnesota 15 who are facing retaliatory punishment for standing alongside our community.
This past winter, armed agents of the fascist federal government attempted to tear down our communities by force. But Minnesotans’ depth of organized resistance cannot be dismantled. We have organized by the thousands across race, class, and faith to effectively defend our neighbors and communities. We built a decentralized network based on the collective awareness and shared vision that we all deserve to live, thrive, and be protected in our places of work, worship, and homes. We have shown the world that the vast majority of Americans will not tolerate our communities being turned into high tech laboratories of surveillance and occupation. We have shown the world that we will not accept having our hardworking neighbors terrorized and disappeared out of their homes.
In response to our show of street power, fascist politicians are once again using lies about immigrants in an attempt to incite fear, violence, and division. They think this tactic will help them win the upcoming midterm elections, but we are united in our vision for justice, liberation, and a better world. They fear our movements because we are powerful, principled, and we are angry.
As the Minnesota chapters of the Democratic Socialists of America, we encourage our members and our neighbors to keep showing up for one another. Join your neighborhood group, host a community dinner, check in with a friend, get plugged into rapid response, and of course, join DSA and organize your community!
Stay strong. Solidarity and sincerity forever.
SIGNED: Twin Ports DSA, Twin Cities DSA, Brainerd Lakes Area DSA, St. Cloud DSA, Red River Valley DSA, Southeast Minnesota DSA