Rooftop Somalis patrolling and guarding their communities against these looters

[Garad]

There is currently a widespread misconception that the vast majority of Somalis involved in the protest in the USA are looters. As many have already pointed out, this is indeed FAR from the case. In fact, most Somalis are both patrolling and guarding their communities against these looters.

If you have the time, then please continue to make threads/posts discussing the heroism shown by Somalis both in America and the rest of the diaspora. I have already collected a few:



If you're wondering why I choose the name "Rooftop Somalis", then please educate yourself about the 1992 LA Riots:

1992 Los Angeles riots - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

If you come up with a better name, please share it.

 

[Garad]

Somalis chase away an arsonist at the Kemel Mall in South Minneapolis. This was featured in local news!:

Tired of watching their city burn, Minneapolis neighborhoods defend themselves

Frightened and angry Minneapolis residents mobilized Saturday night to protect their neighborhoods, setting up shifts to watch over their blocks or barricading their streets to keep out troublemakers. Others patrolled neighborhood businesses, armed and ready to fight off arsonists or looters.

www.mprnews.org

 

[BetterDaysAhead]

i predicted the rooftop somalis

the "rooftop somalis" might be a thing soon

today i spoke to my friend that has an uncle that had his shop looted and he's beyond pissed, him and his friend talked about getting on top of roofs with weapons to protect their businesses and scare off looters :jaynerd: the niinka community frowns upon the shenanigans :kendrickcry:

www.somalispot.com

 

[Garad]

"Minneapolis has the largest Somali community in the United States. Abdi said his businesses remained intact thanks to a group of two dozen friends and customers who also stood watch all night and shooed off groups off vandals."

The news article link:

Reuters | Breaking International News & Views

Find latest news from every corner of the globe at Reuters.com, your online source for breaking international news coverage.

in.reuters.com

 

[madaxweyne]

Rer minnesota finally came through

 

[madaxweyne]

Lool people are already giving this a name "streetside somalis"

Where about to make history

 

[Garad]

This Tweet was featured in the news!:
"Sarura Yerro, center, and others take a break from helping clear water from the interior of a Wells Fargo Bank in Minneapolis, Minn., that was destroyed the night before during protests against the death of George Floyd and police brutality, on Saturday, May 30, 2020."

"In Cedar Riverside, Somali-American residents stood watch on the streets."
Link to the news article:

https://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/news/2020/05/31/minneapolis-protest-violence-roundup-saturday.html

 

[Garad]

"Safia, a Somali immigrant, opened the restaurant in December 2018 with her retirement savings. In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, she closed the restaurant and had to choose between paying for insurance and paying staff. So Safia chose her staff. That means there are no funds to rebuild. A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the family."

Link to news article.

Her store was burned down because of the looting, but through the help of a Somali women she currently received over $170,000 in donations on GoFundMe.

Link to GoFundMe:

Donate to Save Mama Safia’s Kitchen, organized by Saida Hassan

Family and friends we need your help! Mama Safia opened her doors December 1, 2018 with little… Saida Hassan needs your support for Save Mama Safia’s Kitchen

www.gofundme.com

 

[Garad]

I can't see this thread in "New", does anyone know why?

 

[Garad]

Somali Americans are also donating food:
"Ali said she was proud to see Somali businesses supporting the demonstrations, donating food and supplies to help protesters survive.

If you see one eating a banana, she said, there's a good chance it was donated by a Somali business. "Somalis are known for their bananas," Ali said, chuckling."

Link to news article:

Black pain is ours: Minneapolis Somali community rallies over Floyd killing

Somali community, being both Muslim and Black, plays unique role within protest movement

www.middleeasteye.net

 

[pablo]

 

[Garad]

Some of you might think that the police are enough to protect the residents and stores in the United States. That is indeed the case for most communities, but local law enforcement is not doing enough to protect Somalis. As such, Somalis must protect themselves!

"Hesen Shire, owner of West Bank Furniture, said he hasn’t seen any law enforcement along Cedar Avenue where businesses — many Somali-owned — are boarded up. He has called police but no one has come, he said."
Link to news article:

Minneapolis residents step up to protect their neighborhoods – from Little Earth to Longfellow

www.startribune.com

_______
"In fact, working class people, especially people of colour, have been most effective at stopping vigilante violence. For example, when a sketchy looking person was seen trying to start fires at a Somali mall, the Somali community organised to confront him while the police and National Guard ignored reports."

Link to news article:

Mass, coordinated action needed to win #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd

Reading Time: 7 minutes George Floyd gasped “I can’t breathe,” again and again, for nine long minutes. This is murder. It is murder at the hands of the Minneapolis Police. Yet the recent racist killings of Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery, and the countless cases of racist police murder over the...

thesocialist.org.au

 

[kickz]

Somalis payin random gang members as security now

 

[Garad]

Somali Americans were also involved in cleaning up the city of Minneapolis following the initial riots:

 

[Abdisamad]

Why are the Madow always hating on Somalis

 

[Garad]

About 80 percent of looters/rioters that have been arrested so far hail outside the state of Minnesota.

Source:

Officials: Outsiders fueling rioting, looting, violence in Twin Cities; Walz fully mobilizing National Guard

Gov. Tim Walz is fully mobilizing the National Guard for the first time in state history in order to combat rioting in Minneapolis.

www.mercurynews.com

______
As such, Somali Americans have taken the necessary counter measures:

"In the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood of Minneapolis, young men from the Somali community barred entry into the area around residential towers in an effort to protect it"

Here's the articles in which this quote originated from:

Residents, business owners guarded homes and storefronts

Armed with a small camp heater and boxes of pretzel bites, donuts and tea donated by a local gas station, longtime West Seventh Street resident Barbara Jungbauer, 58, spent all Saturday night into …

www.twincities.com

 

[Garad]

The Streetside Somalis include both the young and the old:

"At the Karmel Mall, a shopping center off Lake Street that predominantly serves the Somali community, a viral video showed shoppers, including many women, chase away a group of white men. At night, security guards from the community stood guard, asking small groups of protesters who approached to go the other way. Somali youth vetted journalists who approached on Google, matching their publications with previous work online before they would agree to speak."

Link to the news article:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/minneapolis-has-become-a-war-zone/2020/05/31/321b5836-a380-11ea-bb20-ebf0921f3bbd_story.html

 

[Garad]

Can a mod change the title to "Meet the pals of the Roof Koreans, the Streetside Somalis!"?

Nonetheless, spread the good word of our people!

 

[embarassing]

MashaAllah!

 

[Garad]

"We don’t recognize these people,” said the Latina activist, Emilia Gonzalez Avalos. “What I saw were small business owners—black and brown, indigenous, Somali, Mexican, Salvadorians—taking care of the little legacies of their little businesses that are the lifeline of our community.”

Here is the article:

https://www.thedailybeast.com/black...-here-to-fck-shit-up-in-george-floyd-protests