Somali Community Gathering Remarks
December 19, 2025
Good evening, and peace be upon you.
The First Lady and I are honored to be in community with you tonight.
Thank you, Senator Jama and Jamal and the AYCO team, for helping to put this event together.
There are two reasons I am here tonight.
First and foremost, I want you to know I stand in solidarity with you and against the hateful and un-American statements made by President Trump about the Somali community. His comments are wrong, and I denounce them. America and Oregon should always be about coming together – and NOT tearing down others.
The President’s anti-immigrant hate speech and his aggressive immigration actions are stoking fear and tearing apart communities. And the President’s actions are damaging our economy. As business owners, healthcare workers, students, and neighbors, the Somali community has contributed immeasurably to Oregon. Your resilience and entrepreneurship give back to our state every single day.
When fear is weaponized, when we separate families and sow uncertainty, we lose the culture and energy that grows our economy and makes Oregon the vibrant place we love. Let’s fight against that together.
And that’s the second reason I’m here – I want you to know we are fighting back.
I’m using the full authority of my office to defend Oregon’s sanctuary law. Like supporting our Attorney General to hold the Trump administration accountable when his agents break the law.
I’m standing up and using my voice every time Oregonians are in the President’s line of fire.
One of the most important tools we have to fight back is staying together. Breaking bread together. Building community. Finding connection. Forging friendships that shine brighter than any hate speech can.
Tonight, we fight back, through joy, connection, and the incredible meal we are sharing.
I stand before you to reinforce this basic belief: You belong here. You make Oregon stronger. And I am grateful to every one of you for coming tonight at a time when trust in your government must be difficult. Thank you.
As this year comes to a close, I am inspired by the resilience I have seen from Oregonians. Every attempt to throw us off of our game or to intimidate us has only made us stronger. Maybe a little tired, but stronger.
In Oregon, we know what our values are, and we do not bend to threats.
Our collective responsibility is to do everything we can to protect the welcoming, diverse Oregon that we have. As your Governor, I take my responsibility seriously: to be a firewall against hatred and to protect every person who calls Oregon home, regardless of what's being said in Washington D.C.
Thank you.