Hindus for Human Rights Statement on President Trump’s Reprehensible Targeting of Representative Ilhan Omar and Somali Communities at Large
Hindus for Human Rights stands in full solidarity with Representative Ilhan Omar and with Somali communities across the United States in the face of President Trump’s reprehensible and dangerous rhetoric. His recent speech—singling out Somali Americans with dehumanizing language and stoking fear for political gain—is a direct attack on the safety, dignity, and belonging of an entire community.
As Hindus committed to justice, equality, and the protection of all people, we reject any politics that relies on scapegoating immigrants or weaponizing racism and xenophobia. History teaches us that when leaders target one community, the harm ripples outward, threatening the rights of everyone. The demonization of Somali Americans echoes the broader rise of the ethnonationalism that we oppose—whether in the U.S., India, or anywhere it takes root.
In Minnesota, the President has pointed to specific criminal cases involving a few Somali individuals and then wielded them as a weapon against an entire community. Even when wrongdoing occurs, it is ethically and intellectually bankrupt to smear hundreds of thousands of people for the actions of a few. Gods forbid we applied that same standard to his own family or inner circle and then generalized in such a disingenuous and bigoted way. No leader who cares about democracy should normalize, or indeed initiate and promote, this kind of collective blame.
Representative Omar has long been a courageous voice for human rights, peace, and accountability. Attempts to undermine or intimidate her are attempts to weaken our collective struggle for a more inclusive and equitable society. We honor her work, and we condemn the narratives that seek to make her and her community less safe.
Hindus for Human Rights calls on all Americans to reject this rhetoric of division, to stand up for their Somali neighbors, and to defend the democratic values that bind us. In Minnesota and beyond, no community should be reduced to the worst actions of a few; a healthy, meritorious democracy judges people by their own conduct and contributions, not by the crimes or failures of others who share their background. Representative Ilhan Omar’s journey from refugee to member of Congress is a powerful example of that democratic promise—and it stands in direct contrast to attempts to smear her and the broader Somali community through fearmongering and collective blame. We affirm that Somali communities are an integral, vibrant part of this nation’s fabric and deserve safety, respect, and solidarity.
Anchored in Hindu teachings that affirm the inherent dignity of every being, Hindus for Human Rights stands with all communities targeted by racism, Islamophobia, or xenophobia and steadfast in our commitment to a United States of America and a world where every person can live in safety and freedom.