The Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN) today called for an investigation of a possible bias motive for a reported act of vandalism targeting a Somali-run day care in Minneapolis.
According to media reports, the Nokomis Daycare Center was vandalized following a wave of online misinformation and hostile rhetoric directed at Minnesota’s Somali community. That facility was not included in a viral social media video that has fueled right-wing attacks and false narratives about Somali-run childcare providers.
In a statement, CAIR-MN Executive Director Jaylani Hussein said:
“This disturbing incident raises serious concerns about the real-world consequences of anti-Somali, anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim hate speech circulating online. When misinformation and dehumanizing rhetoric about an entire community are allowed to spread unchecked, acts of intimidation and vandalism become more likely. Even though this day care had no connection to the viral video being circulated online, it was still targeted. That raises serious questions about whether bias played a role in the vandalism, and those questions deserve a thorough investigation by law enforcement authorities.”
CAIR-MN has previously condemned racist and dishonest attacks on Rep. Ilhan Omar and the broader Somali-American community and has repeatedly warned that such rhetoric can lead to harassment, discrimination, and violence.
CAIR-MN: Minnesota Rep. Tom Emmer calls for deportation of Somali-American citizens – CBS
CAIR-MN: Trump administration freezes child care payments to Minnesota amid federal investigation into alleged fraud – CNN
CAIR-MN is the state’s leading Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization. Its mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
END
CONTACTS: Jaylani Hussein, Executive Director, CAIR-MN — 612-406-0070 — jhussein@cair.com; Suleiman Adan, Deputy Executive Director, CAIR-MN — 612-408-7183 — sadan@cair.com