Mahdi Responds to POTUS' Attacks on the Somali Community

Mahdi and Nic discussed recent comments made by Donald Trump RE: the Somali Community at large during a video visit on Tuesday, 12/3/2025. Mahdi found the president's comments disheartening and untrue. Nic agrees and discusses how the Somali Community is currently facing a similar racist backlash to other groups that have been targeted in the past when large numbers migrate to the United States from another country. The full discussion is available on YouTube.

Admittedly I (Nic) had not had a ton of interaction with the Somali community in Minnesota during my 40 years of living here until I started working with Mahdi. When Nick Nelson and I staffed a table/booth at the Cedar Riverside Cedarfest event earlier in 2025, I was not sure how two very white guys would be received by the Somali Community. We interacted with dozens of Somali men, women, and children of all ages and shared Mahdi's story and answered blunt, honest questions about why we of all people were standing in Cedar Riverside with a young Somali man's face on our T-shirts, Zines, Stickers, and signs. When people asked us these honest questions and came to understand that we were there because we are truly passionate about securing Mahdi's freedom from wrongful incarceration, the Somali community welcomed us and made us feel at home. I've since spent a lot more time getting to know Mahdi, members of his family, and other wonderful Somali people who add so much to the culture and economy in Minnesota. I've come to learn that the Somali people take care of each other and help anyone that they see that needs their help.

It is time for all Minnesotans to stand up against racist, xenophobic comments made by people at any level of power in our country. It is time for us to show up and support this community in the same way that they support their neighbors when they need help. I urge all Minnesotans to get to know the Somali community. It is only when you take the time and make the effort to meet people that don't look like you that you truly begin to understand that we are all so much more alike than we are different.