Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey’s recent victory has ignited a firestorm of controversy, not for policy debates, but for the language he used to celebrate it. Following his narrow re-election win, Frey delivered a portion of his speech in Somali, directly addressing and embracing the city’s large Somali-American population.
Video footage quickly circulated online, showing Frey leading chants in Somali, met with enthusiastic applause and cheers from the crowd. The gesture, intended as a sign of inclusivity, was immediately seized upon by conservative voices who labeled it as pandering and a divisive act.
Critics argued that an American politician should prioritize English when addressing the public, questioning the appropriateness of speaking another language during an official victory speech. The debate quickly escalated, with some commentators expressing outright hostility towards the gesture.
Frey’s words themselves, translated from Somali, emphasized a message of belonging and opportunity. He specifically named several regions within Somalia, assuring residents from those areas that Minneapolis offered a path to prosperity and a welcoming environment for families.
The election itself was a closely watched contest, pitting Frey against state Senator Omar Fateh, the first Somali American and Muslim to serve in the Minnesota state senate. Fateh’s campaign enjoyed support from progressive groups and prominent figures like Representative Ilhan Omar.
Despite facing a strong challenge from the left, Frey secured endorsements from established Democratic leaders like Governor Tim Walz and Senator Amy Klobuchar, highlighting the internal divisions within the party. The outcome underscored the complex political landscape of Minneapolis.
This isn’t the first instance of Frey utilizing Somali in his political outreach. A campaign advertisement released in September, also in Somali, drew similar criticism from conservative lawmakers, who viewed it as a deliberate attempt to appeal to a specific voting bloc at the expense of broader unity.
Frey first took office in 2018, and his tenure has been marked by significant events, most notably the 2020 protests following the death of George Floyd. He was visibly present during the demonstrations, even marching with protesters and publicly mourning Floyd’s death.
The mayor’s actions during that tumultuous period, while praised by some as a display of empathy and solidarity, also drew criticism from others who questioned his handling of the unrest. Now, his embrace of the Somali community has once again placed him at the center of a national debate about identity, inclusion, and the role of language in American politics.
The controversy surrounding Frey’s speech reveals a deeper tension within the country, a struggle to define what it means to be American in an increasingly diverse and interconnected world. It’s a conversation that extends far beyond the city limits of Minneapolis.
