SAINT PAUL, MINN – On Saturday, a terrorist attack in the city center of Mogadishu, Somalia claimed the lives of at least 300 people and injured several hundred more. As people around the world mourn after the deadliest terror attack in East Africa, Minnesotans are gathering tonight to hold a vigil for peace and mourn the loss of hundreds of innocent people.
Minnesota State Representative Ilhan Omar (DFL-Minneapolis), the first Somali-American to be elected to a state legislature in the United States, released the following statement:
“For so many people around the world, and here in Minnesota, this is a time of crisis. As we mourn the senseless killing of so many innocent people, unity in this time of crisis is crucial. Many of our neighbors are hurting and mourning lost relatives and friends. I hope Minnesotans of all races and religions will join us as we come together to process this tragedy and pray for the victims and their families.
“Deadly terrorist attacks have become common to the point of making us numb to their destructive force, but we should not be numbed because of the race, religion, or geography of an attack of this magnitude. We mourn with the families of Mogadishu as we mourned with the families in Paris, Beirut, Brussels, New York, and Baghdad, and many others. In all these attacks, terrorists have attempted to shake our ability to see the shared humanity in one another by attempting to leave a mark of fear on the survivors, instead of a memory of the victims who are the mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, and grandparents of so many around the world and in our own community. We stand united for peace, and a world without terror.”
Minnesotans will gather tonight from 4:30-6:30pm at the Brian Coyle Center (420 15th Ave. S, Minneapolis MN 55454) for a vigil for peace and prayer for the people of Mogadishu and the families of Minnesotans impacted by the killing of their loved ones. All people of every faith community are encouraged to attend to join in solidarity for peace.