Monday, October 27, 2014
Wearing a hijab, Lul Hersi led a large crowd at the Stearns County Courthouse in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance on Saturday.
"This is what makes me an American citizen," she said about the pledge. "This is what makes me have a right as much as anybody else. I swore to this the day I became a citizen."
Hersi has lived in the United States for 21 years, the last 13 in St. Cloud. She was born in Somalia.
"I believe America is for justice," Hersi said. "If you decide to be unjust to other people, I believe you belong somewhere else — not in St. Cloud."
Hersi was speaking on behalf of an anti-racism rally and march, which took the sign-holding crowd from downtown to the field of Halenbeck Hall.
"I am not a terrorist, I am a human being," Hersi said. "I don't care which Bible you read, I don't care which Quran you read, I don't care which religion you belong to — we are all one human being."
Organizers said the event was prompted after a small Facebook group stated earlier this fall that it was going to hold an anti-Muslim march at Lake George. That march apparently didn't occur on its announced date — residents of the Lake George neighborhood said they didn't notice any march.
"Professors, students and faith leaders from all across Central Minnesota wanted to stand in solidarity to the Somali-American community here in St. Cloud," said event organizer Justin Michael, who works in the local DFL office.
"The theme of today is one community united around social justice."
The crowd assembled around noon and was accompanied by local police. Local religious figures shared prayers.
"We decided if there were 10 people or a thousand people this is worth the effort to put this on," said St. Cloud State professor Debra Leigh, who helped organize the event. "The crowd today is thrilling. It's so exciting."
Hersi and other speakers shared stories of their personal bouts with injustice.
Hersi said people in the community routinely make negative comments about her traditional Islamic clothing or call her lazy and ask if she's on welfare.
"I encounter racism every day. But you know what? I keep my head up and move forward," Hersi said.