Interfaith leaders denounced President Donald Trump’s social media attacks on a group of St. Paul kindergarten graduates wearing hijabs in a Wednesday news conference.
“Our children deserve to grow up knowing they are fully part of this state and this country, not to be told they do not belong because of what they wear, not to be told they are not as American as their classmates because they wear hijab,” said Imam Yusuf Abdulle, executive director of the Islamic Association of North America. “That is the Minnesota we believe in. That is the America we hope for.”
“Children should be our red line,” said Malika Dahir, executive director of Reviving Sisterhood. “They’re not symbols to be exploited. They’re children. Let’s protect them with our words. Let’s protect them with our action.”
On Monday, Trump posted twice on his Truth Social platform a video clip of kindergarten graduates from Gateway STEM Academy, a St. Paul charter school serving about 180 students, most of whom are Somali.
The clip was lifted from Somali TV of Minnesota, which highlighted end-of-year celebrations at several Minnesota schools serving a large Somali population. It shows children singing a joyful song wearing blue caps and robes, with small stoles in rainbow letters that read “kindergarten graduate.”
The first time, he posted the 14-second clip without context. The second time, he reposted the clip with a quote added from an account called “End Wokeness.”
“Public school in St. Paul, Minnesota,” that post read. “Every girl is in a hijab … in kindergarten.”
The social media post drew condemnation from Gov. Tim Walz. “The President of the United States is attacking a group of kindergarteners because of the clothes they wore to school,” Walz tweeted Monday.
Gateway STEM Academy executive director Mohamed Ahmed declined interview requests, but said in a statement that the school was focused on the “care and well-being of our students, their families, and our staff.” He noted the school remained focused on its mission of providing a “safe, student-centered learning environment” that integrates science and technology education, “cultivating curiosity, collaboration, and confidence so that each child reaches their full potential.”
Wednesday’s news conference included faith leaders from Christian, Jewish, Unitarian Universalist, and Muslim traditions.
Rev. Terri Burnor, a Unitarian Universalist minister and the executive director of the Minnesota Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Alliance, noted that people of all faiths were called to care for children.
“The words we use may be different across faith traditions and spiritual practices, but what is universally understood and known by all people of faith and conscience is that it is our sacred and profound duty to care for and protect all children,” she said. “Blessed are these Muslim kindergarteners for practicing their religion, celebrating a milestone, being fully themselves, making friends, learning and growing. They have much to teach us.”
Speakers noted that anti-Somali rhetoric has been on the rise — and that words can turn into action.
Abdulle pointed to vandalism at mosques and women harassed for wearing hijabs. Dahir noted a fire on a school bus this spring outside another charter school with many Somali students. A Minneapolis Police Department spokesman said Wednesday that case remains open and active, and that there have been no arrests.
Abdisalam Adam, the principal of East African Elementary Magnet School in St. Paul and an imam at a Cedar-Riverside mosque, said that the president’s attacks undermined children’s developmental needs.
“This kind of public attack goes counter to the self-confidence and transformations that they need,” he said. That was especially true after schools were working to build up positive mindsets following Operation Metro Surge, he said.
Like Gateway STEM Academy, East African Elementary Magnet School has many Somali families. Though most of Adam’s school community has legal immigration status, the federal government’s hostility against immigrants and anti-Somali rhetoric led students to “question their Americanness,” he said.
This year, East African Elementary Magnet School held three graduations, or “moving up” ceremonies — for prekindergarten, kindergarten, and fifth grade. This year, following the disruptions of Operation Metro Surge, the ceremonies took on added significance. Adam took heart from the “resilience and the sense of normalcy.”
“The ability to pivot to something new and adapt to change is kind of the Somali story,” he said.
Abdulle cautioned that Trump’s rhetoric could have consequences.
“When the president says these things, he legitimizes these things to other people,” Abdulle said. He added that the rhetoric could, “God forbid,” be “followed by violence.”
He called on people of all backgrounds to unite against this “anti-human” rhetoric.
“If it is affecting my child, it is going to affect your child,” he said.
