Minnesota Somali Leaders Attending Terrorism Summit
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Minnesota is home to the largest Somali population in the country. And it's because of that distinction that leaders from Minneapolis-St. Paul were one of three cities asked be part of a White House Summit on Countering Violent Extremism.
The White House said the effort to prevent violent extremists from organizing in the United States is more important now because of last week's violence in Paris.
The Twin Cities became part of a pilot program in the fall designed to engage at-risk communities and to stop extremists from recruiting for terror organizations overseas. In August, Douglas McCain, a Robbinsdale-Cooper High School graduate, died in Syria fighting for ISIS. While the number like McCain may be small, it is not insignificant.
In November 2014, Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson said while in Minnesota, "We have to offer people an alternative narrative an alternative message and develop that."
The Twin Cities will join representatives from Boston and Los Angeles at the Summit on Countering Violent Extremism on Feb. 18 to build a model for the rest of the country. U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger is spearheading the local efforts, in coordination with local law enforcement and community representatives.
"Since I began working with the Somali Minnesotan community last spring to design a plan that will address the root causes of terrorist recruiting, I have come to learn that we share a deep commitment to see our community prosper in peace and security," Luger said.
Minneapolis Police Chief Janee Harteau and Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek will attend. Stanek said the need for this summit was heightened after the recent violent terror attacks in Paris.
"Folks started thinking about it, thinking it can happen here. We have an obligation to work with those parents, those faith community members, local business people, to understand what this is and what we can better do, and what happens in Minnesota happens elsewhere," Stanek said.
About 15 law enforcement representatives and Somali community leaders will attend. While the summit will highlight best practices here, the White House said it will also include partners around the world who are implementing programs to prevent extremism and recruitment.