Recently re-elected mayor Jacob Frey has been facing backlash for speaking Somali during a portion of his victory speech, as well as chanting to the crowd in the foreign language. According to a recent Fox News article, within his speech the mayor said ¨Minneapolis belongs to Somalia.¨, and received mass backlash online for his actions.
The claim is partially true but missing crucial context. During his speech, when addressing the Somali community Frey said ¨This is our people. This is our city. We are united behind each other.¨ Importantly, he includes how Minneapolis should be a place everyone is ¨proud to call home.” Essentially, he is calling for inclusion and community within Minneapolis and thanking the Somali community, who played a crucial role in his mayoral victory.
