Press Releases
MINNEAPOLIS, July 31, 2024–
One month ago, Hassan Ali Khaire, the former prime minister of Somalia, spoke to a group of Somali political leaders in Minneapolis. Rep Ilhan Omar was seated directly to his left when he made what many local Black community leaders considered racist comments. The offensive remarks were caught on video and released by the Minnesota Reformer. Omar still has yet to release a statement disavowing Khaire’s remarks.
“Whether you like this girl or not, it is very important that Ilhan, as a Somali, is in that place (Congress) for us. Any Somali who believes that a Black man should take that seat (the Fifth Congressional District) or a white person, there is something wrong with that person’s morals,” Khaire can be heard saying on the video.
“Former Prime Minister Khaire’s comments are deeply unsettling, inconsistent with the values our community holds, and not reflective of the views of the Somali voters my campaign and I have spoken with,” Samuels said in response. “These comments represent a cynical divide-and-conquer approach to politics. Rep. Omar should rebuke Mr. Khaire’s words for the harm they cause in our community.”
These comments are the latest in a long line of remarks made by or on behalf of Omar that divide our community and the Democratic Party and advance her agenda. In addition to numerous anti-Semitic remarks that have been rebuked by fellow Democrats–and praised by David Duke–including labeling Jewish students as “pro-genocide” earlier this spring, Omar has also drawn criticism for calling former President Barack Obama a “pretty face” who “got away with murder.” She has also equated the United States with Hamas and the Taliban, as well as called for the dismantling of the Minneapolis Police Department.
“Rep. Omar has a habit of driving these wedges in our community. Instead of showing up between elections to help our community improve public safety, address drug addiction, or improve educational outcomes, she’s absent on those issues–but attempts to make up for lost ground by inciting the type of ethnic conflict and racial resentment that should be left in the past,” said Samuels. “Sadly, targeting the African American community, among others, is a political calculation Rep. Omar is willing to make if she thinks it will help increase her support elsewhere. Today, we need leaders who will bring our community together for a better future.”
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A Somali refugee, Omar’s connections to politics in her homeland are well-known. Her father was a colonel in the Siad Barre regime before the country’s civil war, and she has frequently been a loud voice in the country’s recent elections. As a result, Khaire hired Omar’s brother-in-law as his chief of staff during his time as prime minister. Earlier this year, Omar also generated even more controversy when she weighed in on a Somaliland-Ethiopian memorandum of understanding on port access.
Khaire’s visit and campaigning on behalf of Omar has also prompted an FEC complaint, which alleges receiving that type of campaign support at a rally violates restrictions on foreign involvement in U.S. political campaigns. The complaint centers on Khaire’s appearance at a rally the day before his racist comments, where he said, “Support her with your votes, tell your neighbors and friends, and anyone you know to come out and support Ilhan Omar…and knock on every door you can so that she can be re-elected.” Khaire added, “Ilhan’s interests aren’t those of Minnesota or the American people but those of Somalia.”
In 2022, Samuels challenged Omar in the Democratic primary, coming within 2.1%, or 2,466 votes, of defeating her despite the predictions of pundits who panned his effort as a long shot. He made Minnesota history by almost defeating a national party-endorsed incumbent. Samuels launched his rematch in November, with the primary election slated to take place on Aug. 13.
Samuels is campaigning as an alternative for Democrats who are tired of the gridlock in Washington caused by the fringes of both parties. He says his time in Congress will be spent working to find common ground across the political spectrum and negotiating to get bills passed rather than holding to inaction demanded by “purity politics.”
A native of Kingston, Jamaica, Samuels was born the third of 10 children to a Pentecostal pastor and seamstress. In 1970, he immigrated to the United States to pursue an education at New York’s Pratt Institute and later became a toy designer for some of the industry’s top companies.
After moving to Minnesota, Samuels met and married his wife, Sondra. Together, they moved to the Jordan neighborhood in north Minneapolis, where they continued a lifelong commitment to always live in the most challenged part of their city.
After a bullet went through their soon-to-be-born daughter’s bedroom window, the couple began organizing their neighbors. Together, they began advocating for policy changes and additional resources to improve community safety. Eventually, Samuels ran for office, serving three terms on the Minneapolis City Council and one on the Minneapolis Public Schools Board.
For more information and updates, follow Don Samuels online or on social media by visiting www.donsamuels.com.