A small school district in Vermont has been inundated with racist and threatening calls and messages after it displayed the Somali flag in solidarity with its Somali student body. The Winooski School District began flying the flag on December 5, following U.S. President Donald Trump’s reference to Minnesota’s Somali community as “garbage.” The district’s intention was to support its students, about 9 percent of whom are of Somali descent. Superintendent Wilmer Chavarria, a Nicaraguan immigrant, said the gesture was meant to provide “a little moment of normalcy” amid a wave of national racist rhetoric.
The flag was hoisted alongside the Vermont state flag and beneath the U.S. flag at a building that houses classrooms and administrative offices. Somali students initially responded positively, cheering and clapping at the sight of the flag. However, the district soon faced a flood of harassment, including phone calls, voicemails and social‑media posts targeting staff and students. To protect its personnel, the district shut down some school phone lines and its website.
Chavarria described the attacks as “extremely deplorable,” and Mukhtar Abdullahi, a multilingual liaison for Somali‑speaking families, emphasized that “no human being, regardless of where they come from, is garbage.” Some students have even asked whether their immigrant parents are safe. The district is cooperating with law‑enforcement to investigate the threats, and additional police officers have been stationed at school buildings as a precaution.
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson attributed the harassment to individuals unaffiliated with Trump. The incident occurs against a backdrop of repeated racist remarks by Trump against Somali immigrants, including claims that they “contribute nothing” and that he does not want them in the country. In Minnesota, immigration agents have intensified operations against the Somali community, while the Minneapolis mayor has defended the community’s contributions to the city’s economy and cultural fabric. Most Somalis in Minnesota are U.S. citizens, with over half born in the United States.
The experience of the Winooski School District highlights the ongoing challenges immigrant communities face in the United States, especially in the wake of divisive rhetoric and policies. As it navigates this difficult situation, the district remains committed to supporting its diverse student body and promoting a culture of inclusivity and respect.
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