In a city that has seen its share of struggles and strength, Minneapolis is once again called upon to look for one of its own. A community cries out for help in locating a missing person, known as Miski, who is black, queer, first-gen Somali, and Muslim. Leaders who have stood on platforms of inclusiveness and representation are now being asked to stand in tangible efforts of solidarity and action.
According to a plea on social media, dated June 11th, political leaders who used the rhetoric of representing marginalized communities—like Aisha Chughtai who campaigned as a Muslim American, Katie Cashman with her links to the Loring Park Queer community, and Jamal Osman who vowed to be a voice for the Somali community—are now reminded of their promises. Miski's disappearance is not just a news story; it is a test of those promises' durability. But it's the local Ward 9 city council member, Jason Chavez, who is earning commendation for being the "most helpful," directly attending to the needs of his constituents.
As the original post implores, the sharing of Miski's pictures and information should not be considered an excessive demand; it is the bare minimum. Aurin Chowdhury, who carried the identity of a first-gen Muslim into their campaign, now faces the expectation to act beyond electoral slogans. The community member who aired the initial concern made a simple yet profound point: "Please, dear god, refrain from damage control in the comment section. Do something or move!" as stated on the Facebook post.
