Standing in Solidarity with Our Somali Neighbors

In 1963, the great Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote in his Letter from a Birmingham Jail, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Somali Americans are the most recent target of the injustices of which Dr. King wrote.

Last week, President Trump made disparaging comments in which he referred to Somali people in Minnesota as “garbage;” a woefully disturbing characterization that leads to the vilification of immigrant communities and communities of color. I am deeply troubled by the President’s latest attacks against our Somali neighbors in Minnesota and nationwide. 

Central Ohio is home to the second-largest Somali community in the country, with an estimated 70,000 Somali residents. They have made invaluable contributions to our community, our state, and our country. There are nearly 500 Somali-owned businesses in Columbus that not only contribute to the economy but also amplify the city's diverse, international culture. 

On Saturday, I joined Columbus leaders and elected officials at City Hall to stand in support of the Somali community and discuss the importance of protecting them.

Somali communities nationwide have a proud history that deserves to be celebrated. Many Somali Ohioans are multi-generational immigrants whose families fled their home due to pervasive conflict and were welcomed to the United States as a place of refuge and safety. The US Census Bureau notes that, of the 98,000 Somali immigrants living in the United States, 83% are naturalized U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents.

America’s promise as a shining city on a hill, where all are welcome and diversity is a virtue and not a vice, has long made this country great. In the Book of Mark, Jesus is asked: what is the most important commandment? In response, he said first to love your God, and the second is to “Love your neighbor as yourself.” This commandment, which transcends a singular faith, reminds us that our highest calling as a people and a nation is to extend compassion and dignity to one another.

However, this administration’s rhetoric toward Muslim, Black, and immigrant communities contradicts those fundamental American principles. The Department of Homeland Security’s pause on immigration from 19 countries, including Somalia, has obstructed lawful residency and citizenship processes. Threats to terminate Temporary Protected Status for Somali nationals endanger residents who contribute significantly to the economic and cultural fabric of Columbus, underscoring the need to protect these communities in the face of bigotry.

When writing his Letter from a Birmingham Jail in 1963, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. knew explicitly how it felt to be dehumanized. Jailed for leading a non-violent protest against segregation, King recognized the critical moment to which our country was facing. Galvanized by his experience in Birmingham, he later wrote in his seminal book Why We Can’t Wait about “the fierce urgency of now.” King reminded us that justice delayed is justice denied. 

We must act with that same urgency now. It is imperative that we uplift Somali communities in Columbus, reject the racism and bigotry that seeks to divide us, and do better to ensure that this nation and our state are a safe place for all, including refugees and immigrants.