Does accepting federal grant money imply that one supports every decision made by President Trump? Apparently that is the case with Ka Joog, a US-based Somali charity organization…
Minnesota currently has the largest Somali population in the United States. Within that demographic is a nonprofit organization called Ka Joog, which operates with the mission to make life better for Somalis. Part of that includes combating terrorism among Somalis living in the United States.
Since the Somali community in Minnesota has been a target for terror recruiting, organizations like these are important for groups who are vulnerable to terrorism. Quite a few end up joining terrorist groups in Somalia or Syria. Ka Joog applied for a federal grant while former President Obama was still in office.
The Department of Homeland Security allocates money to organizations to counter extremism, and earlier this month, the leaders of Ka Joog were granted the funds. They decided to turn down the grant, however, because they disagree with President Donald Trump. Since they feel that he is anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant, the idea is that somehow they’re going to teach him a lesson by turning down the $500,000 grant they were offered. It may just be me, but turning down half a million dollars meant to help my cause seems incredibly foolish and selfish. Once again, people are using counterproductive measures to make headlines and take a swipe at President Trump.
One of the leaders claims that donors from all over the United States have stepped up and offered assistance to the nonprofit organization. They also plan to have fundraisers, hoping that they’ll be able to raise the $500,000 they turned down for no reason whatsoever. They also say that they’re proud of their decision. If the funds are not raised, however, their services will not be available to those they are serving—their fellow Somali people living in the United States. Since part of their organization focuses on educating Somalis to avoid radicalization and extremism, that is not a gamble I would feel comfortable taking. Politics have once again infiltrated an area that should be strictly professional.
While we are all entitled to our own beliefs, thoughts, and political views, there’s a time and place for everything. It doesn’t make sense that organizations that exist for the sole purpose of assisting those who need help would speak for them and deprive them of half a million dollars. That doesn’t sound like a decision I would be able to live with. If the funds can’t be raised, they won’t have anything to offer.
The way the organizers explained it was that if they accepted the federal grant, it would be the same as agreeing with everything President Trump stands for. This makes no sense and isn’t a valid argument whatsoever. With that logic, couldn’t it also be argued that remaining in the United States means that you agree with every word the president says? Does it mean every American sanctions all of his policies and sees eye-to-eye with the current administration?
No, it does not. The organizations who are denying federal grants in protest of President Trump are doing nothing but hurting those they claim to serve.
Angelina Newsom is an OpsLens Contributor and U.S. Army Veteran. She has ten years experience in the military, including a deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. She studies Criminal Justice and is still active within the military community.
To contact or book OpsLens contributors on your program or utilize our staff for your story, contact [email protected].
