While opinions swirl about whether or not the country should come together to support President-elect Donald Trump, a movement is growing among many non-white, Muslim, women, and LGBT community members, that they need to to come together to support each other.
“Like many people, we feel vulnerable, uncertain, and fearful about the direction of our country. As displays of hate, racism, islamophobia and xenophobia have increased, we know many others have been having similar conversations as well.” That’s what 20-somethings Abla Elmi and Brin Hanson (#DumbledoresArmy) wrote on the invitation to their Finding The Light: Solidarity Dinner.
The friends raised about $1,200 in small donations during the couple weeks they spent organizing the Nov. 26 event at Minneapolis’ Muse Event Center. Kaskaid Hospitality, which owns Crave Catering and the Muse, donated food and space for the event. It included diverse food, performances, speakers, and a fashion show to celebrate culture.
“It really came about as we were trying to lift each other’s spirits up after the election results,” said Hanson. “We felt defeated by hate and misunderstanding, so we decided we wanted to fight back in the only way goodness and love ever does, by driving out the darkness with light.”
The Southern Poverty Law Center, an organization dedicated to fighting hate and bigotry that seeks justice for the most vulnerable members of society, has a “Hatewatch” tab on its web site now. It tracks the number of incidents of hateful harassment since election day: 701 through Nov. 14.
“This has been an especially nasty election season, full of such negativity and hate,” said Elmi. “It was weighing down so heavily on our souls, and on the souls of everyone around us. So we thought about how nice it would be to give people an opportunity to come together for an evening of positivity.”
Elmi and Hanson handed out fliers about the event and invited friends, family, political and religious leaders, and members of the Minnesota branch of the Pantsuit Nation movement. About 60 people attended the family friendly event.
“It took two young ladies to do this,” said speaker Asma Jama. “So it gives us hope that we can all do something.”
Speakers and performers included U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison, who recorded a video for the event, soul singer Traiveon Dunlap, Somali youth speaker Liban Adam, Minnesota State Rep. Jon Applebaum, the Somali Museum of Minnesota Dance Troupe, community activist and youth developer Kendrick Dwight, community advocate Asma Jama, folk singers The Lacewings (Sarah Larsson and Katherine Parent), and Sumaya Keynan, who presented a fashion show.
“We just wanted to invite people out for an evening of fun, and to also use this event as an opportunity to share this platform with local youth, and to showcase their talent,” said Elmi.
Hanson said she had several goals for the Solidarity Dinner. “The first, is a reminder to our refugee and Muslim Minnesotans that despite what our President- elect said while he was campaigning in Minnesota, we not only welcome them into our community, but we value their culture, their stories, and their many contributions to our community. The second is to make a statement to not only our state, but our nation that it is not them and us, it is just us—we are one—we are all Minnesotans. We are all Americans. We are all humans. The third would be to hopefully start a movement in Minnesota (and hopefully the nation) to take a louder stand in supporting each other during this uncertain time.”
At the end of the event, Elmi, who is studying human rights, described an experience that had inspired her. She said she’d been feeling tired and beaten down in one of her classes by all the acts of hate and violence her teacher had been describing. “And then he said, we’re teaching you this so you can be angry and go into the world and do something about it.”
Elmi and Hanson, who identify themselves as members of Dumbledore’s Army, a reference to a fictional student organization in the Harry Potter book series that fought against an oppressive regime, quoted Albus Dumbledore on their invitation: “Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.”
“My intention is not to overdramatize our current circumstances by drawing direct comparisons, but I agree with the sentiment,” said Elmi. “Instead of cowering in fear, those students came together to support each other, to stand up for themselves and their loved ones, and to educate each other. Those are all principles that I admire and would love to emulate.”
Editor’s note: “I asked long-time Northeaster associate Alicia Scott, who grew up in North Minneapolis and Columbia Heights and now is living in Ramsey, MN to comment on the election. She said she found the young subjects of this article to be the best way to express how to go forward.”
Photos (left to right): Minnesota State Rep. Jon Applebaum said he was proud that the DFL is a party of social justice with a diverse inclusive group of law makers that he feels will treat everyone equally. Somali Museum of Minnesota Dance Troupe performed at the dinner. Soul singer Traiveon Dunlap sang Sam Cooke’s “A Change is Gonna Come.” Organizers Abla Elmi and Brin Hanson. (Photos by Alicia Scott)