Overview
- Brian O’Hara met with Somali community members and issued a public apology in remarks shared by Xogmaal Media and reported by local outlets.
- In a Nov. 11 WCCO interview, he referenced “groups of East African kids” from surrounding communities while discussing an Oct. 31 homicide near Dinkytown.
- O’Hara said his aim was to address juvenile violence and nonresident involvement without causing harm, and he did not retract the underlying concern.
- Alpha News reported that the Minneapolis Police Department did not immediately respond to its request to clarify whether his earlier characterization was incorrect.
- A Change.org petition seeking an apology for the remarks was reported to have gathered 629 signatures.