ST. PAUL, Minn. — Somali American community leaders have pushed back against recent public comments by Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher about Somali gang violence, arguing that while youth violence is a serious issue, the sheriff’s approach unfairly stigmatized the broader Somali community.
Speaking at a news conference in St. Paul, community representatives said they share concerns about violent crime involving a small number of Somali youth but criticized Fletcher for discussing the issue publicly through his “Live on Patrol” YouTube platform before engaging directly with community leaders.
“Leadership is not speaking about people. Leadership is speaking with people,” said Imam Yusuf Abdulle, urging authorities to work collaboratively with Somali organizations rather than making public statements that could reinforce negative stereotypes.
Community Calls for Partnership
Speakers emphasized that Somali families, religious leaders, and nonprofit organizations have been addressing youth violence and mentoring at-risk young people for years.
“Our parents have been having those conversations around the dinner table for years, and our nonprofit organizations have been mentoring young people long before anyone decided to livestream the issue,” said Suleiman Adan of CAIR Minnesota.
Community advocate Ali Gaashaan argued that every community experiences gang-related crime and warned against repeatedly emphasizing ethnicity when discussing criminal activity.
“There are gangs in Minnesota; they belong to every other community,” Gaashaan said, calling for language that focuses on criminal behavior rather than an entire ethnic community.
The leaders stressed that public safety is not improved by broad generalizations, saying fear and stereotypes make it harder to build trust between law enforcement and immigrant communities.
Sheriff Fletcher Defends His Remarks
Sheriff Fletcher has maintained that his comments were aimed at addressing violence involving a relatively small group of approximately 300 youth believed to be involved in gang activity – not the Somali community as a whole.
In a statement, Fletcher said:
“I have worked with the Somali community for 20 years. I welcome the opportunity to collaborate with all organizations wanting to address youth gang violence.”
He added that effective responses require a combination of prevention, intervention, and law enforcement, describing the issue as one of “saving lives.”
The sheriff also invited Somali leaders, parents, and community organizations to attend a public meeting on July 21 to discuss solutions and strengthen partnerships.
Background to the Debate
The controversy began after Fletcher released a video following several violent incidents over the Independence Day weekend. He said investigators had linked numerous shootings and homicides to ongoing conflicts involving Somali youth gangs and argued that Minnesota must openly acknowledge the problem before it can be effectively addressed.
While some residents and victims’ families have welcomed greater attention to gang violence, many Somali leaders insist that addressing crime should not come at the expense of an entire community’s reputation. They say meaningful progress will depend on sustained collaboration between law enforcement, parents, faith leaders, schools, and community organizations.
