(Star Tribune) Customers inside Lavazza Coffee & Cocktails at Karmel Mall, a hub for Somali-owned businesses in south Minneapolis, roared with rage while watching President Donald Trump on TV as he spoke at a campaign rally Thursday in their town.
They reacted most strongly when Trump vowed to curb the influx of refugees and took aim at U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., calling her “a disgrace to our country.”
“I knew it,” said Mohamed Ali, the coffee shop’s manager who warned patrons that the president would say something critical about Somalis. “This guy is a big hater.”
Some recited difficulties that have befallen the community since Trump’s election, including a lack of jobs and a rise in hate crimes.
Trump’s visit also spurred anxiety and fear for many Somalis here.
