Minnesota state senator Omar Fateh declares Somali neighborhood a 'no-go zone for white supremacists,' says they have their own patrol

Minnesota state Sen. Omar Fateh declared that Minneapolis’ Somali-populated Cedar Riverside neighborhood would be a “no-go zone for white supremacists,” a phrase that holds a long and controversial history in Europe, amid rising tensions over immigration enforcement and political protests in the Twin Cities.

The comments were made in a series of posts on X showing Fateh standing in front of the Cedar Riverside towers alongside two other men. “Cedar Strong. White Supremacists aren’t welcome here. We protect our own,” the post read. When pressed by journalist David Marcus, who wrote that Americans do not allow “no-go zones,” Fateh doubled down, replying, “This is a No-Go zone for white supremacists.”

The phrase “no-go zone” has been used to describe migrant, Muslim-majority neighborhoods where police presence is limited and outsiders are discouraged from entering. Cities such as Paris, Malmo, Cologne, and parts of Brussels have all faced allegations of de facto no-go zones, often tied to failed integration policies, gang violence, and parallel legal systems. European governments routinely deny their existence, even as journalists, residents, and police unions report enforcement gaps.

In the United States, some Americans once lived under “sundown towns,” similar to no-go zones, where black citizens were warned not to stay after dark.  Fateh has not defined what he means by “white supremacist,” but his broader political record provides context. Minnesota Democrats have repeatedly labeled support for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and opposition to mass migration as racist. In that framework, the label can easily expand to include Trump supporters, journalists, or anyone backing immigration law enforcement.

On Saturday in Minneapolis, pro-Trump counter-protesters were physically assaulted, and at least one individual was threatened for wearing an American flag sweatshirt.