St. Paul, MN – About 500 Muslims, mainly from the Twin Cities Somali community, rallied at the state capitol here, March 18, to protest the anti-Islam congressional hearing presided over by New York Republican Representative Peter King.

The D.C. hearings, entitled “The Extent of Radicalization in the American Muslim Community and that Community's Response” amount to a witch hunt directed against Muslims, particularly those of Arab and African dissent.

Hassan Mohamud, Imam and director of Minnesota Dawah Institute, led the crowd in chanting, “What do we want? Justice! Where do we want it? Here!” He spoke at length against King’s hearings and proposed legislation that would limit the rights of Muslims to practice their faith.

Mick Kelly, of the Committee to Stop FBI Repression, denounced the hearings as an attempt to criminalize Muslims and condemned repression against the Somali community, as well as against anti-war and international solidarity activists.

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