Over 30 years ago, the City of Tukwila and South King County began welcoming Somali refugees to our community. Many were fleeing famine, war, and instability and like so many people around the world, looked to the United States for safety and a place to begin their American journey. Tukwila became that place for many.
We were deeply disappointed and disturbed by President Trump’s recent hateful and divisive remarks about Somali Americans living in Minnesota.
To our Somali community: Tukwila welcomes you and has always had a place for you. You enrich our community. You are our neighbors, our friends, our family, and part of our business community. Members of the Somali community are active in civic life as entrepreneurs, workers, community leaders, volunteers as well as serving on the Tukwila City Council, Boards and Commissions. Tukwila’s Somali community is deeply woven into the fabric of Tukwila. They are us!
In moments like this, we must denounce xenophobic, Islamophobic, and inflammatory language from all sources; it is inaccurate and harmful rhetoric.
We continue to believe that respect and compassion ultimately prevail, and Tukwila will be a community to support and stand by our Somali neighbors, friends, and colleagues.
If you are experiencing an active emergency or are in immediate danger, please call 911.
To report hate and get support, call the Washington State Non-Emergency Hate Crimes & Bias Incidents Hotline 1-855-225-1010.
— Mayor Thomas McLeod, Councilmember Mohamed Abdi, Councilmember Armen Papyan, Councilmember Dennis Martinez, Councilmember Hannah Hedrick, Councilmember Joe Torres Camacho, and Councilmember Jane Ho.