Columbus State Rep. Ismail Mohamed Faces Backlash After Posting Somali-Language Video
Columbus, Ohio – State Representative Ismail Mohamed, a Democrat from Northeast Columbus, has recently become the target of far-right social media criticism after posting a video update to his constituents in Somali.
The video, originally shared on Aug. 14, showed Mohamed—who immigrated to Ohio as a child refugee from Somalia, discussing efforts to temporarily rename a Columbus street in honor of Somali historical leader Mohamed Abdulla Hassan. He also spoke about collaborating with other Somali-American leaders in the U.S. government to support Somalia.
Mohamed explained that the update was meant for Somali-speaking constituents, while most of his speeches are delivered in English. He compared the backlash to other U.S. leaders, such as Senator Marco Rubio, who frequently address Spanish-speaking voters in their native language.
The video was amplified by far-right accounts, including End Wokeness and Libs of TikTok, both of which have millions of followers. Breitbart News also covered the video, leading to national attention.
Some responses to the posts included xenophobic remarks calling for Mohamed’s deportation and questioning the role of foreign-born individuals in U.S. politics.
Mohamed expressed concern about the impact of this rhetoric on Columbus’ Somali-American community, one of the city’s largest immigrant groups. With an estimated 60,000–70,000 Somali residents, Columbus has the second-largest Somali population in the U.S., after Minneapolis.
“Many Somali-Americans feel unsafe or unwelcome due to these attacks,” Mohamed said, noting that women who wear visible religious attire are particularly vulnerable to harassment.
This controversy highlights the challenges immigrant communities face in Ohio, particularly when representation in local government becomes a target of nationalized political debates.
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