Statement on Violence Perpetrated by Nasri Warsame Campaign at Ward 10 Convention

What happened at the Ward 10 DFL Convention today was horrifying, unacceptable, and indicative of the growing threat to progressive, pro-people candidates and movement leaders. Today, during the Ward 10 Convention, the Nasri Warsame campaign continually made people feel unsafe. They intimidated delegates and alternates, harassed and threatened DFL volunteers, and assaulted me and my supporters. One ambulance was called — it was for a DFL volunteer.

My campaign worked to be friendly, engage with, and welcome all delegates and alternates regardless of who they supported. But the Warsame campaign ultimately made us unsafe.

Over a dozen of our supporters and DFL volunteers were physically assaulted that we know of right now; there are likely more who haven’t gotten in touch with us yet. The Warsame campaign punched multiple women of color on our campaign team, and shoved and harassed LGBTQIA2S+ delegates and supporters. They also repeatedly attempted to get a hold of the camera of a movement photographer who had been given an All Access Pass by the DFL to document the Convention — attacking those who are documenting democracy just because they support or work for a certain candidate is unacceptable.

This escalated over multiple hours and the Convention was ultimately shut down after Warsame campaign leaders led his delegates and charged the stage assaulting me and my supporters as I was about to begin my convention speech. Warsame’s team escalated their disruption by taking Convention Official’s materials and throwing them off the stage. This action by the Warsame campaign to harass, bully, and assault my supporters and DFL volunteers was an attempt to scare us. Despite all this, we stayed calm and committed to our vision for Ward 10 and local democracy.

My campaign did the mature thing and deescalated the situation by instructing people to leave the floor and remove themselves to safety. Eventually, our supporters locked themselves in our hospitality room, so they would be safe and away from a rapidly escalating and dangerous situation. The Warsame campaign followed us off the floor and was only held back by a group of brave volunteers who blocked a hallway while our supporters were able to escape from the locked hospitality room out a back door of the building to safety.

I am grateful for the sergeants-at-arms who were on duty, who also worked to deescalate the situation. All of them had to be checked out by EMTs. I’m also grateful for the DFL volunteers who worked to ensure a fair process today. And I’m grateful the Chairs ended the Convention for everyone’s safety.

This happened because they knew that the Ward 10 community was once again behind us and we were going to win — over 60% of the delegates in the room were identified to be supporting us. Because we’ve shown the wealthiest folks in this city, and the politicians they’ve bought, that the people of this city have the power to make real change and build the community we deserve. That’s why they’re afraid of us. That’s why they stormed at us.

My team and I came to this convention to talk about the powerful work Ward 10 residents have been doing in our community, our wins for Ward 10, and our vision for an equitable and safe city.

We don’t know yet what is going to happen next with the DFL process, but it is clear that the Minnesota DFL’s unwillingness to hold those who perpetrate violence against Muslim women has, over time, led to multiple incidents of violence like what we saw today. And as what we saw today is a significant escalation of any previous incidents, continuing to let this go unchecked will lead to fewer Muslim women and women of color stepping up to lead in our communities because they have seen evidence the DFL won’t protect them.

I’m doing my part to make sure marginalized residents are safe engaging in and stepping up to lead within the DFL. It's time for the Party and DFL elected officials to do the same. I call on every elected official in Minneapolis and the Minnesota DFL to condemn this act of violence committed by the Nasri Warsame campaign against our communities.