Somali leaders in Minnesota speak out against Sheriff Fletcher, say his caution against gangs 'creates fear'

After a deadly Independence Day weekend Ramsey County Minnesota Sheriff Bob Fletcher released a video on social media applying pressure on local leadership to act on the spurt of violence the area has been experiencing at the hands of Somali dominated gangs. The Sheriff outlined the concerns of his department and demanded long-term solutions.

Fletcher's remarks drew criticism from the local Somali community who claimed that the sheriff's words stoked fear.

"That kind of rhetoric is not only wrong, it is dangerous," Minneapolis City Council Vice President Jamal Osman said in a statement. "It targets an entire community, creates fear, and makes it harder to build the trust we need to actually keep people safe."

Osman then went on to say Fletcher words represented a pattern of behavior with the Sheriff.

“This is not the first time Sheriff Fletcher has singled out ethnic or racial communities during his time in office,” he said. “That pattern should concern all of us. It shows a troubling willingness to sow division, stoke racial resentment, and speak about communities without the cultural understanding and care that public leadership requires.”

The Somali American Partnership said "...public safety is not advanced by sensationalizing violence, making sweeping generalizations about Somali youth, or using the authority of public office to publicly lecture and stigmatize an entire community."

“Those 300 kids that are running in the gang circles are going to turn into 900 kids,” Fletcher had said “This is how it happens, we're at an early enough stage where we can address the problem before its heavy drugs… We've got a huge list of criminal activity, but having said that, we're not indicting the whole community, just the 1 to 3 percent that cause the problems."

"Before you start fixing the problem, first you have to identify what it is," Fletcher added

Law enforcement officials have said the issue involves a small number of individuals rather than the broader Somali community, but they argue that addressing gang recruitment early is necessary to prevent further violence. Fletcher emphasized that his department's focus remains on identifying repeat offenders, disrupting gang activity, and working with community leaders to prevent young people from entering criminal networks.

Minneapolis Police department released a statement in reponse to the backlash surrounding Fletchers comments.

“The Minneapolis Police Department is actively investigating the violent incidents that occurred over the holiday weekend. As these cases remain open and ongoing, MPD will not comment on investigative details or speculate about potential gang or group involvement until all facts are confirmed," the department said.

"MPD remains committed to addressing both established gang activity and other forms of group‑related violence. The federal indictments announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office on June 30 highlight the ongoing collaborative work between MPD and our local, county, state, and federal partners to disrupt violent criminal organizations operating in Minneapolis. In addition to enforcement efforts, MPD continues to work closely with community leaders and organizations to reduce violence, prevent youth involvement in gangs, and strengthen safety in neighborhoods across the city.”