The Council on American-Islamic Relations condemned comments made by President Donald Trump's at a rally on Thursday in Minneapolis about the state of Minnesota's Somali population as "racist."
The comments that drew the ire of the group that advocates for Muslims in America:
"Leaders in Washington brought large numbers of refugees to your state from Somalia without considering the impact on schools and communities and taxpayers. We will always protect American families first," Trump said to jeers from the crowd.
Estimates place the Somali population around 50,000 in the Minneapolis area. Among the Somali-Americans residing in the Minneapolis area is Rep. Illhan Omar, a first-term Democrat. Omar has been a frequent target of Trump and his supporters. At previous rallies, the crowd has chanted "Send Her Back."
“How the hell did that ever happen?” Trump said about Omar's election. “Congresswoman Omar is an America-hating socialist.”
"President Trump's hate rhetoric places the entire Somali community in Minnesota and nationwide in danger from the growing white supremacist movement that looks to him for validation and encouragement," said CAIR's state of Minnesota Executive Director Jaylani Hussein.
