Displaying items by tag: Tim Walz

A confrontation between federal agents and residents in a Somali neighbourhood of Minneapolis has heightened fear and tension within the community. Witnesses reported that ICE agents used pepper spray to disperse a crowd of protesters after checking identifications in restaurants, on the streets, and at a senior housing complex. The crackdown follows the decision by Donald Trump to end temporary protected status for Somalis, calling them ‘garbage’ and saying he does not want them in the country. The move has drawn denunciations from leaders of the Somali community and governor Tim Walz. About 84,000 of the 260,000 Somalis in the country live in the Minneapolis-St Paul area, the overwhelming majority of them US citizens. Over half were born in the U.S., and 87 per cent of those born elsewhere are naturalised citizens. Federal officials justify the operation as targeting criminals, giving details of nine criminals who have been arrested recently, but local leaders argue that such actions unfairly stigmatise an entire community.

Former teacher and National Guard member Tim Walz, who recently went viral for his calling Donald Trump ‘weird’, has now been adopted by Kamala Harris as her running mate for the presidential election. Walz, governor of Minnesota, is noted for his appeal to rural white voters and his progressive policies, such as free school meals and expanded paid leave. He also enacted the ‘Taylor Swift bill’ to regulate ticket sales. Despite Minnesota's Democratic leaning, its proximity to battleground states like Wisconsin and Michigan adds strategic value. Walz, 60, has a background in education and military service, connecting well with ordinary Americans. His political career began in 2006, winning a Republican-leaning congressional district and later the governorship in 2018. He is well-known for his record on LGBT and abortion rights, banning conversion therapy, and supporting gender-affirming healthcare.