Here’s what’s occurring.

A meme proclaiming that Minnesota was promised to the Somalis 3000 years in the past has been making the rounds on social media in current days, however what precisely does it imply?

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Somalis in Minnesota

First, some background data: Somali refugees have been settling in Minnesota because the Nineteen Nineties, in the end resulting in the state having the biggest inhabitants of Somalis within the U.S.—round 80,000. The anti-immigrant sentiment within the U.S. has more and more contributed to vitriol towards them, together with from President Donald Trump himself.

Trump lately advised reporters that Somali immigrants “contribute nothing,” that they’re “garbage,” that their nation “stinks,” and that he doesn’t need them within the U.S. He has additionally used his platform on Truth Social to assert that he’s going to put off the Temporary Protected Status, regardless of stories saying it will solely influence round 700 individuals nationwide.

What is the Minnesota Was Promised to the Somalis meme?

In gentle of the aggressive anti-Somali stance put forth by Trump and different anti-immigrant rightwingers, a meme has popped up revolving round the concept that Minnesota is the land that was promised to the Somalis 1000’s of years in the past.

To be clear, regardless that many Americans maintain the assumption that immigrants—particularly these with authorized standing—ought to really feel welcomed and secure in Minnesota and the U.S. as a complete, there’s no precise foundation to what the meme claims. Rather, it’s a riff on justifications utilized by those that consider God promised Israel to the Jews.

The thought behind all of it appears to be to concurrently present assist for Somalis who reside in Minnesota and are being focused by the Trump administration and to casually spotlight the absurdity of utilizing an outdated spiritual textual content to determine who ought to have the best to land.

Examples of the meme

Jokes about Minnesota being the Biblically-promised land of the Somalis (a lot of whom are Muslim) have unfold throughout social media in current days, together with “two state solution” and “Minnesota birthright” japes.

@mrpertrophy There needs to be no two state solition in somalian minnesota. It belongs to the somalis. #somalia #minnesota #somali #immigration #fyp ♬ authentic sound – Mr. Pertrophy

@zee.loves.u Minnesota Right of Return is the perfect regulation on the earth. Can’t wait to return to the holy land. #somali #minnesota ♬ F. Chopin, Nocturno in E flat main No.3 – AllMusicGallery

@abdimalikfm Flew from the opposite aspect of the world once I heard the decision 🫡😮‍💨 #minnesota #minneapolis #somali ♬ Isii Nafta (Love You More Than My Life) – Nimco Happy

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