Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey's Victory Speech in Somali Sparks Conservative Criticism
Minneapolis Democratic Mayor Jacob Frey, who recently won re-election, is facing criticism from conservatives for delivering a victory speech in Somali and expressing a welcoming attitude towards Somalians in Minneapolis. In a video of the speech, Frey can be seen leading chants in Somali as the crowd responds enthusiastically. Conservative influencer Paul Szypula criticized Frey for what he perceived as pandering to the Somali community.
Frey narrowly defeated socialist Minneapolis state Sen. Omar Fateh in a second round of nonpartisan ranked-choice voting. Fateh, the first Somali American and Muslim to serve in the state senate, had the support of the Twin Cities' chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America and Rep. Ilhan Omar. On the other hand, Gov. Tim Walz and Sen. Amy Klobuchar endorsed Frey's campaign.
After his victory, Frey addressed a crowd of Somali residents, expressing gratitude in Somali and emphasizing Minneapolis as a place of unity and prosperity for all residents. This gesture was met with mixed reactions from conservative pundits, with some criticizing Frey for not speaking English in an official capacity.
Criticism of Frey's Somali-language political messaging is not new, as he faced backlash in the past for releasing a campaign ad in Somali. Despite the controversy, Frey was re-elected for his third term as mayor of Minneapolis. He gained recognition for his involvement in the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests and his public display of solidarity with the community following George Floyd's death.