Woke re-elected Minneapolis mayor faces backlash after giving victory speech in a international language
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey faced backlash for speaking in a foreign language during his victory speech after winning re-election.
Frey, 44, won his third term as mayor over the nearly 430,000-strong Midwestern city on Tuesday, and during his victory speech, the Democrat spoke in Somali for parts of it.
Around 25,000 Minneapolis residents heil from Somalia, a population that Frey has spent a large amount of time bonding with.
He beat out Somali-American, Omar Fateh, who is a democratic socialist, in the race.
While celebrating his win, he spoke in the language, leading chants with the crowd.
‘No matter where you are from, Minneapolis should be a place where you are proud to call home,’ he said in English. ‘Minneapolis is a place where you come to seek prosperity, where you come to raise your family.
‘And here is what this election means, this election means this is a moment for unity, where the entire Somali community can come together and say: “This is our people, this is our city, we are united behind each other.”‘
Conservative podcaster, Paul Szypula, 48, of New York, took issue with parts of Frey’s speech telling Fox News: ‘The pandering here is insane. Mayor Jacob Frey, as he won reelection, spoke almost a minute in Somalia then said [it] belongs to Somalia.’
Frey, 44, won his third term as mayor. During his victory speech, the Democrat spoke in Somali for parts of his speech
Minneapolis has the biggest Somali population in the US
Fellow podcaster Matt Walsh agreed, writing: ‘As I have said many times now, politicians in this country should be required by law to speak English when addressing the public in an official capacity.
‘There should never be a time when Americans can’t understand what their elected leaders are saying.’
Radio host, Gerry Callahan, best known for hosting a show in Boston, called Frey’s use of a foreign language ‘humiliating.’
‘This is an American politician, raised in America, educated in America, ostensibly representing Americans, prostrating himself in front of [a] bunch of foreigners,’ he said.
Frey has spoken in Somali before and even released a campaign ad in the language in September.
It may have helped him steer toward his third win – a historic feat as he is only the second Minneapolis mayor to secure a third term.
Minneapolis is home to the largest Somali population in America.
Conservative podcaster, Paul Szypula, 48, of New York, took issue that around a minute of Frey’s speech was not spoken in English. ‘The pandering here is insane,’ he said
Fellow podcaster Matt Walsh agreed, saying politicians should have to speak English, the official language of the US
In June, he told the Somali community that they were a ‘vital part of the fabric that makes our city strong, diverse, and united.’
He also promised to protect them against the Donald Trump Administration.
‘No matter what policies are introduced by President Donald Trump, Minneapolis stands with you, and [we] value what you bring to our city.’
