Minneapolis Politicians Unite to Defend Omar Fateh Against Islamophobic Attacks

Conservative Activist Charlie Kirk Targets Muslim Mayoral Candidate, Sparking Bipartisan Condemnation

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and other local politicians rallied to defend mayoral candidate Omar Fateh on July 15, 2025, after conservative activist Charlie Kirk launched an Islamophobic attack on the Minnesota state senator, falsely portraying him as part of a Muslim conspiracy to take over the American government and questioning his loyalty to the United States despite Fateh being born in Washington, D.C.

Kirk, founder of the pro-Trump youth organization Turning Point USA, posted on social media Monday that "Muslims are commanded to take over the government in the land they live" and claimed that "the attempted Islamic takeover of America is made possible thanks to mass migration". The attack intensified Tuesday when Kirk shared a video of Fateh referring to Somalia as "our home" and commented that "Mass migration from the third world must be stopped. We are committing suicide".

The incident has thrust the Minneapolis mayoral race into the national spotlight and highlighted the rising tide of Islamophobic rhetoric targeting Muslim-American political candidates across the country.

Bipartisan Defense Emerges from Minneapolis Leadership

Mayor Jacob Frey, who is Jewish and running for reelection against Fateh, immediately condemned Kirk's remarks and defended his political opponent. Frey called Fateh "a proud American who is running because, like me, he loves Minneapolis".

"I'm proud that Minneapolis is a place where he can run for mayor against me on his own merits — and that this kind of bigotry is widely rejected across our great city," Frey wrote on social media.

The swift defense from Frey demonstrated remarkable political unity across religious and ideological lines. According to the Star Tribune, both Fateh, who is Muslim, and Frey, who is Jewish, condemned Kirk's attacks on Muslim candidates.

Other Minneapolis politicians joined the chorus of support, with advocacy group TakeAction Minnesota posting on social media that "Islamophobia has no place in our politics or our society". The group, which has endorsed Fateh's campaign, added that "Senator Fateh is right—this hate is not who we will ever be".

Kirk's Pattern of Targeting Muslim Candidates

Kirk's attack on Fateh represents part of a broader pattern of targeting Muslim-American political candidates. The conservative activist has recently focused his criticism on both Fateh and Zohran Mamdani, the New York City mayoral candidate who defeated former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo in the city's Democratic mayoral primary last month.

Both Fateh and Mamdani are democratic socialists and state lawmakers, leading Kirk to portray them as threats to American democracy. According to the Star Tribune, Kirk has "long been accused of antisemitism, but recently began blasting Muslim candidates".

The Georgetown University Bridge Initiative documented that Kirk, who "repeatedly attacks the religion of Islam and previously called George Floyd, the Black man killed by a white police officer in 2020, a 'scumbag,'" continued to launch attacks on Fateh and called for an end to "third world immigration" to the United States.

Fateh Responds with Dignity and Defiance

Fateh, 34, responded to the attacks by emphasizing Minneapolis's diversity and progressive values. The state senator, who has served in the Minnesota legislature since 2021, posted on social media that "Minneapolis is a beautifully diverse city that stands firm in our progressive values".

"The hate I've seen today – and most days – is not who we will ever be," Fateh wrote in response to Kirk's comments.

Rather than allowing the attacks to derail his campaign, Fateh has continued to focus on his policy platform. According to the Times of India, the Democratic candidate has "announced his candidacy in December, laid out a bold vision to increase the city's minimum wage to $20 by 2028, freeze rents, and block police cooperation with federal immigration authorities".

The Candidate Behind the Controversy

Omar Fateh represents a new generation of progressive Muslim-American politicians. Born in Washington, D.C., to Somali parents, Fateh made history in 2020 when he became the first Muslim elected to the Minnesota State Senate.

His mayoral campaign platform reflects his progressive credentials, including proposals to raise the minimum wage to $20 by 2028, implement rent freezes, and prevent Minneapolis police from cooperating with federal immigration enforcement. According to Caasimada, Fateh has stated that "nearly half of the city's police calls could be handled without an officer and called for investment in alternative public safety responses".

The candidate has taken a particularly strong stance on immigration enforcement, vowing that Minneapolis will not cooperate with federal immigration authorities under a potential second Trump presidency. "Whether it's an immigration raid or otherwise, our people deserve a mayor who stands up to Donald Trump and says, 'no, that's not happening in our community,'" Fateh has stated.

Online Harassment Campaign Intensifies

The attacks on Fateh extend beyond Kirk's initial posts, with other right-wing commenters joining what the Star Tribune described as Kirk's "bandwagon, painting Fateh as a threat to America". The harassment has included racist and xenophobic comments targeting both his Muslim faith and Somali heritage.

According to the Times of India, Fateh "was told to 'go back to Mogadishu' and mocked for his appearance". Conservative political strategist Joey Mannarino wrote, "I can tell by the shape of his head he's a Somalian… He should run for Mayor in Mogadishu".

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) Minnesota chapter condemned what it called "anti-Muslim, racist hate" targeting Fateh, describing the attacks as part of "rising political violence". The organization's response highlights the broader pattern of harassment facing Muslim-American political candidates.

National Context of Rising Islamophobia

The attacks on Fateh occur within a broader context of rising Islamophobia targeting Muslim-American political candidates nationwide. The Georgetown University Bridge Initiative noted that "the hostility Fateh is facing is not unique," citing similar attacks on New York State Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani.

"In New York, State Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani—also a democratic socialist and practicing Muslim—has routinely been the target of similar abuse for his faith and political convictions," the Bridge Initiative reported.

The pattern of attacks reflects what experts describe as a concerning trend of questioning Muslim-Americans' loyalty to the United States based solely on their religious identity. As Star Tribune opinion editor Phil Morris wrote, "If your first response to a Muslim-American candidate for public office is to question their loyalty to America, the problem isn't them — it's you".

Political Implications for Minneapolis Race

The national attention generated by Kirk's attacks has elevated the profile of the Minneapolis mayoral race, which had been relatively quiet until this week. Fateh faces an uphill battle against incumbent Mayor Frey, who is seeking a third term in office.

The controversy has also highlighted the diversity of Minneapolis's political landscape, where a Muslim state senator can compete against a Jewish mayor while receiving bipartisan support against religious discrimination. This dynamic reflects Minneapolis's evolution into a politically diverse city with a significant immigrant population.

According to Caasimada, the attacks on Fateh "serve as a poignant reminder of the deeply fractured and often vitriolic nature of today's political landscape, especially at the intersection of race, religion, and reform-driven policy".

Defending American Values Through Unity

The unified response from Minneapolis politicians demonstrates what many see as the city's commitment to pluralism and democratic values. Mayor Frey's defense of his political opponent, despite their ideological differences, has been particularly noted by observers.

The bipartisan condemnation of Kirk's attacks reflects broader American principles of religious freedom and equal political participation. As Morris noted in the Star Tribune, the incident "betrays America's founding ideas" but shows that such bigotry "is widely rejected" in Minneapolis.

The response from local politicians and advocacy groups suggests that Minneapolis voters may reject attempts to inject national partisan rhetoric into local politics based on religious identity.

Implications for American Politics

The defense of Omar Fateh by Minneapolis politicians, including his political opponent, represents a significant moment in American political discourse. The incident demonstrates both the challenges facing Muslim-American candidates and the potential for bipartisan unity against religious discrimination.

As the Minneapolis mayoral race continues toward the November election, the national attention generated by Kirk's attacks may paradoxically strengthen Fateh's campaign by highlighting the city's commitment to diversity and inclusion. The unified response from local leaders suggests that voters may be more interested in candidates' policy positions than their religious identity.

The broader implications extend beyond Minneapolis, as similar attacks on Muslim-American candidates nationwide test the strength of American democratic institutions and values. The response to these attacks will likely influence how future Muslim-American candidates approach political campaigns and how communities respond to religiously motivated political harassment.