MOORHEAD, Minn. – Moorhead Mayor Shelly Carlson, Police Chief Chris Helmick and the city’s Human Rights Commission stood by people of Somali descent in the city despite President Donald Trump saying “we don’t want them in our country.”
“Our Somali neighbors are our colleagues, business owners, educators, caregivers, innovators, and friends,” Carlson said. “They help shape the culture, economy, and future of Moorhead every single day.”
The president discussed Minnesota’s Somali community on Wednesday, December 3.
“Somalians, ripped off that state for billions of dollars and they contribute nothing. We’re going to go the wrong way if we keep taking in garbage into our country,” Trump said.
The Moorhead Area Schools’ annual report shows students in the district speak 63 different languages at home with Somali being the second most-spoken language.
“Every person in our community deserves to feel safe, valued, and respected,” Moorhead Human Rights Commission Chair Siham Amedy said. “When we protect rights, we build trust. When we celebrate diversity, we build unity. And when we listen to each other, we build a stronger Moorhead.”
