Minnesota Somali leaders claim gang violence is gun issue, not community problem

Somali community leaders in Minnesota have claimed gun violence is to blame for gang violence perpetrated by Somalis in the state, not a problem with the community. This comes after a high school homecoming dance in the state was canceled over a Somali gang-related shooting at the school’s football game. 

At an October 7 press conference, Farhio Khalif of Somali Youth Link said, “this is not a Somali community [issue],” but instead, “this is a gun violence issue.” She cited America’s history with gangs, suggesting that the recent violence by Somali gangs was yet another chapter. “If you guys remember, it used to be an Italian gang, an Irish gang, and black gang, and now what, a Somali gang?”

Asad Aliweyd, a resident of Eden Prairie and father of eight, said, “We recognize that Somali American youth were involved, and those responsible must be held accountable. But those are also American youth, born and raised all here, educated here, and grew up in our communities.” 

“This is not simply a Somali problem. It’s a youth violence and gun violence problem and we must address it together. The actions of a few should never define the entire community,” he added.

Aliweyd claimed that the Somali community was being targeted because of “the election.” He said, “Because of the election, Somali communities are targeted to a lot of hateful messages [and] a lot of biased media.”

He said that the media was treating crimes committed by Somalis differently than those who are white. “For example, there has been a shooting happened somewhere northeast of Twin Cities, and that person, they didn’t call that he’s a white, or German, or Irish, or from Norway or anywhere else. But if a Somali person did something, it’s … the end of the world,” he said. 

Notably, Aliweyd is the executive director of the New American Development Center, a non profit that has been ordered to pay back $1.1 million to the Minnesota Department of Education over “fraudulent claims” involving the child nutrition program, per KARE 11. 

Earlier in October, a shooting took place outside of Eden Prairie High School’s Aerie Stadium, with two people being taken to the hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. Police said the shooting was targeted and that neither victim was a student at the school. The shooting took place as the school’s homecoming football game. As a result of the violence, the school’s homecoming dance was canceled.