Hatty Lee

Somali Americans Under Media Siege

A grand jury indicted two Somali American men this week on charges of supporting an unnamed terrorist group. Read Michelle Chen’s web exclusive about the community’s struggle at ColorLines.com. Here’s a snippet:

“While fears about homegrown radicalism may be overblown, activists do see a connection between the turmoil in Somalia and the crisis ensnaring some young Somali Americans—just not the one the media suggest.

“They say the Somali community has long struggled with the marginalization of second-generation youth in the Twin Cities and that in recent years, violence of a more conventional sort has haunted local families. Teen gangs have become a growing concern for police and parents, with some rival groups polarizing along clan lines carried over from their home country.”

Posted at 12:28 PM, Jul 16, 2009 in ColorLines Features | Permalink | View Comments