The city of Columbus, Ohio, the state’s capital, is facing backlash after a social media post suggested plans to raise the Somali flag over City Hall.
Ohio has one of the largest Somali communities in the United States, with the Columbus Area (Central Ohio) ranking second in the U.S. after the Minneapolis–St. Paul metro area.
The Columbus Recreation and Parks Department shared on X, in a now-deleted post, “Happy Somali Independence Day!”
“As we celebrate the unification of the Trust Territory of Somaliland and the State of Somaliland into the Somali Republic in 1960, City Hall will be raising the flag of Somalia.”
Former DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin shared the post and asked, “What on earth are you doing @MayorGinther? This is Ohio. This is America.”
