Monthly Archives: March 2021

Dear MN DLF Chair Mr. Martin,

I guess you have finally displayed your true racist colors. I see the Minnesota DFL staff and board, and it could not be any more vanilla. An Alabama golf club in the 1950s had more diversity. The only person of color is your secretary. How lovely.

I still cannot understand why so many minorities do not see the MN DFL caucus’ true colors. It is not an accident for a state this liberal to have such a horrible and shameful racial disparity record. It is because of exactly how your staff and board are. Think about it. What is even sadder is that you always manage to find some minority person who is clueless and does not understand policy from poop. You use them as a token to get our votes then drop them faster than a hot potato.

Thus far, our people have not figured your bias and subliminally racist policies in your hiring, how you help minority legislators or lack thereof, how all these vanilla liberal politicians preach equity during elections then practice inequality after they win.

I know I keep hoping the next election we will get smarter; it just has not happened yet. I also know the other side could not sell a minority voter who was drowning a life jacket. You on the other hand can sell a minority person who is drowning – water.

Don’t get too comfortable though we will not be stupid forever.

Finally, think about how Gov Walz fooled all of us with his one Minn hoax crap. Then when the rubber needed to hit the road, see how many Somalis or even black/brown staff with any shred of power in his exclusive office. Think about how many Somalis have helped you win elections. Where are they now? Do they work for you? Do they work for one hoax MN gov? do they work in the MN House controlled by the DFL? Of course not.

This is soooooooo frustrating. I don’t know why our people fail to see you for who you really are; a closet racist who fools us with charisma and charm every election cycle.

Guess who was the last governor who did autism research? That is right Gov. Pawlenty. Yet children born in Minnesota to Somali parents have the highest autism rate in the country.

Examples of how subliminal MN DFLers are:

1. Asst Comm for Minn Dept of Education was a committee administrator (CA) in the MN DFL house of reps. I dare you to name a black/brown CA who is now in any state agency let alone an asst comm. Remember Abou Amara. He was arguably one of the smartest CA’s I have ever seen. How did MN DFLers reward him? You guessed it – no job or career advancement. This is one example of many black and brown folks who are highly articulate, intelligent, and educated but are never hired nor appreciated by the MN DFL party.
2. https://www.wbur.org/news/2019/03/30/ayanna-pressley-democrat-committee
3. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/election/article240156358.html

The above words do not reflect any candidate, agency, or committee.

Idil – Somali Autism Mom

Alright – so, Education Minnesota which as I have said before is very powerful politically in this state has done it again. They crafted and led a bill that will reduce and get rid of one of the pathways many teachers of color enter in the classroom. Yes, they are charming, savvy, and even got someone who looks like us to do their dirty work. PELSB also supported this which surprised me. They have a fair amount of diverse folks there, but for some reason; they do not seem to get the gravity of this bill. Anytime the teacher licensure body and the teacher’s unions agree is never good for our kids. This is really sad. The principal’s lobbyists were against this bill, but not to hire or nurture teachers of color which make-up about 20% or so, but to support the 80% white teachers they normally hire.

I soooo wanna cry right now. Who is in the corner of the children and families?

Minnesota House of Representatives Education Policy Committee

Chair – Rep. Richardson

March 1, 2021

My son who has nonverbal autism was suspended by teacher Kelly Morris and principal Jaysen Anderson on Thursday, May 3rd, 5:18pm in 2018. The teacher neglected to give him his communication device, disrupted his routine then called the principal and security on my kid.

I never took him back. My son now goes to a charter school which has been simply wonderful. They understand he has a disability and does not comprehend suspension nor cause/effect. I will never forget that day.

       Re: HF 1376

Madam Chair and Members, many thanks for the opportunity to testify today. I too oppose this horrifying bill along with the many other testifiers. My reason is simply from the parent’s perspective. The teacher who suspended my child was licensed and followed all the “so-called” licensure pathways. Yet, she was not trained in teaching high school students, nor did she understand my son’s needs or our culture.

My son’s current charter schoolteacher did not follow this so-called licensure pathway and I would take Asha over Kelly any day in any school. You see – Madam Chair and members, Asha is a kind, caring and compassionate teacher who reflects my son, understands our culture and most of all sees my son’s potential.

I am heartbroken about this bill. I am mortified that it was written by a black man who should at the very minimum understand how hard it is for black and brown students to learn. To be an effective and amazing teacher does not require one size fits all pathway.

Let me put it in another way that you all can perhaps understand. All the legislatures in this committee are all house of representative, right? But your journey and pathway to this place at this moment have been different from one another. Some of you are attorneys, some are teachers, some are mental health professionals, and others got here from different areas. Imagine, if you were all required to take the same pathway to become a legislature. The majority of you would not be here.

Life is not one size fits all. We must enhance not restrict the pathway to finding knowledgeable and competent teachers who reflect our children. This bill will hurt our kids and ultimately our state.

Please reconsider and vote no on this bill.

As always, I thank you for your time. Idil – Somali Autism Mom

The above words do not reflect any candidate, agency, or committee.

Idil – Somali Autism Mom

Minnesota House of Representatives

Education Policy Committee

Chair – Rep. Richardson  

February 24, 2021

 My son who has nonverbal autism was suspended by teacher Kelly Morris and principal Jaysen Anderson on Thursday, May 3^rd, 5:18pm in 2018. The teacher neglected to give him his communication device, disrupted his routine then called the principal and security on my kid.

I will never forget that day.                                 

I never took him back. My son now goes to a charter school which has been simply wonderful. They understand he has a disability and does not comprehend suspension nor cause/effect.

Madam Chair and Members, many thanks for the opportunity to testify today. Reading this legislation feels like déjà vu. Gov Walz and the Minnesota Department of Education have been saying school districts use non-exclusionary methods before kicking a child from his or her educational environment.

The problem is I am not sure if they believe this and really want it. Here is why: I have been around the advocacy block for over a decade. And I know that what the governor wants the governor gets because he holds the ever-powerful veto pen. In other words, governors can negotiate what is important to them and their constituents pass and become law, but only if they want it.

However, this language (non-exclusionary) in section 7, subd 12, lines 21.24 to 22.4 gives parents like me the illusion but not the tangible action our kids need. For example, if Gov Walz really wants this then he should have made sure Education Minnesota supports this on the record. His office would have also made sure they communicated with the principals and administrators to get their support. In the end, perhaps no-one would get everything they want, but everyone would get something they need.

If I were a betting person, I would bet this language will be scrapped during the conference committee and Governor and the state education department will blame the other side thereby guaranteeing minority votes while doing nothing to ensure the success of our kids was accomplished.

I know I am sure I have irritated some of the politicians here, but please put yourself in my shoes, put yourself in so many student’s and family’s shoes. Imagine testifying for the same bill knowing while the seeds appear to be good, it will never produce fruitful fruits.

Idil – Frustrated Somali Autism Mom & Advocate

The above words do not reflect any candidate, agency, or committee.

Idil – Somali Autism Mom