Minnesota: Somali-American Woman Forgives Attacker for Hate Crime
by Democrazy Now!, 22 December 2016. In Minnesota, a judge has sentenced a woman to six months in prison after she ordered a Somali-American woman to “speak English” before smashing a beer mug into her face for speaking Swahili. Jodie Burchard-Risch pleaded guilty to last year’s assault at an Applebee’s restaurant, which left Asma Jama with a bloodied face and 17 stitches in her lip. Jama addressed her attacker in court at a sentencing hearing on Tuesday.
(Image by Democracy Now!)
Asma Jama:
“My religion teaches me to forgive so I can go on with my life. If I hold a
grudge and I hold the hate you hold towards me against you, it’s not going to
serve me well. So, in front of everybody here, I do forgive you, and I hope
that you choose love over hate.”
“My religion teaches me to forgive so I can go on with my life. If I hold a
grudge and I hold the hate you hold towards me against you, it’s not going to
serve me well. So, in front of everybody here, I do forgive you, and I hope
that you choose love over hate.”
Minnesota is home to a large Somali-American community,
which has faced a rash of hate crimes. In a campaign stop last month shortly
before Election Day, Donald Trump railed against Somali immigrants, saying some
had joined ISIS and describing Somali immigration as a “disaster
taking place in Minnesota.”
which has faced a rash of hate crimes. In a campaign stop last month shortly
before Election Day, Donald Trump railed against Somali immigrants, saying some
had joined ISIS and describing Somali immigration as a “disaster
taking place in Minnesota.”
