From the Desk of the Executive Director | October 9, 2026

The growing pattern of hostility, inflammatory rhetoric, and outright vitriol directed toward our Somali neighbors across mainstream and social media is deeply troubling and demands our collective attention.

Let me be clear: Somali Minnesotans are not political punching bags. They are our neighbors, colleagues, business owners, community leaders, and an integral part of Minnesota’s social and cultural fabric.

We must reject the dangerous practice of holding entire communities responsible for the actions of individuals. Criticism must never become a license for collective condemnation, xenophobia, or the dehumanization of our neighbors.

At the Minnesota Freedom Fund, we stand firmly with our Somali community. We call upon elected officials, media institutions, and community leaders to demonstrate courage, responsibility, and respect in both their words and actions.

Our commitment to freedom and justice means nothing if we remain silent when the dignity of our neighbors is under attack.

Elizer E. Darris 
Executive Director
Minnesota Freedom Fund