Thursday, we posted Don't hate with your food: Willmar anti-Muslim pig foot harassment tale hits Washington Post which examined an incidence at the Willmar Farmers Market in which an angry white man used a pig's foot to verbally and physically assault a young Somali vendor.
A letter in the West Central Tribune fills in some details about the incident and offers an invitation to the pork slinger. Ben Larson writes in An invitation to set aside hate:
My friends and I started a gardening program for minority youth in Willmar where they learn how to grow fresh food and run their own business; creating a sense of ownership in their community.
A major part of the program is selling the goods at local farmers markets, which until Saturday was a wonderful experience for the youth.
On Saturday morning at the market, a Somali woman was working at our stand when a man walked by and repeatedly spewed cuss words about the Prophet Mohammed.
As if that wasn't enough, the man followed up by throwing a pig's foot onto our vegetable table, a twisted and disgusting act.
Luckily, we were able to snap a photograph of the man and supplied the Willmar police with the evidence. He was quickly recognized and tracked down, and we are grateful for their quick action.
This Wednesday we have a meeting with all of the youth in our group. We'll share a meal, talk about the garden and talk about the situation that happened over the weekend.
After much discussion with the garden leaders, we have decided to take the words of Michelle Obama to our meeting and apply them to this situation: "When they go low, we go high."
Because you see, sir: Your actions have done nothing to harm us. You've only emboldened us to work harder for positive change in this community. Your actions show us that our program is needed, and like it or not, the youth that we are training as leaders will soon be leaders in this community.
I hope the perpetrator reads this. The older youth in our program would like to give you the chance to get tea and have a discussion about your actions and your ideals; we'd be happy to facilitate this for you.
It's hard to hate your friends. Hating others you know nothing about is no way to live your life. Please take this opportunity to change.
This is the real work for change. Bravo to the young gardeners for the courage to do it, and to Larson and the others who provided the opportunity for these kids to learn to garden and lead.
Here's the back story on the project: West Central Tribune staff writer Shelly Lindrud reported earlier in August on MNyou reaps what it sowed: Youth group’s garden produce for sale at farmers markets:
When the youth and leaders of MNyou, a youth group in Willmar, started planting their first garden this spring, no one really knew what to expect.
They filled the plot of land on the MinnWest Technology Campus with traditional plants including tomatoes and carrots alongside more exotic fare including bitter balls and kittley. The hope was to sell the goods at local farmers markets along with giving minority youth a project over the summer.
Last week MNyou celebrated its first harvest, bringing the goods to the Saturday farmers market in Willmar.
"It was our first market. We sold out of everything in two hours," said Nate Erickson, who founded MNyou with Abdiweli Yusuf and Ben Larson.
The men founded the group as a community service to help especially minority youth learn to run a business and other life skills.
Both the garden and the group as a whole have been a learning experience for all involved. While at first they didn't know each other or exactly how to tend a large garden, today both are flourishing.
"The group has grown. We are a lot more cohesive and working together," Erickson said.
The youth are more open with each other, sharing their experiences and learning from each other.
"Everyone is growing closer together. They've opened up," Erickson said.
The garden itself has definitely been educational.
"We've had some run-ins with weeds and critters," Erickson said, but the youth have been on board to keep the garden growing. They come out to weed, water and harvest. And now they are selling their produce.
"People have been buying in," Erickson said.
At their first market stand, MNyou sold peppers, broccoli, tomatoes and zucchini. The sale went well, and Erickson is hopeful for the rest of the season.. . .
"I don't think we'll have much of a problem getting rid of the rest," he said.
Read the rest at the West Central Tribune. Learning about the offer to talk to the offender, we think this garden has definitely been educational.
It's not the first time young people in Willmar have demonstrated their generous and inclusive spirit. Witness our 2015 post, Muslim students attending Willmar Senior High: "we’ve got a really great community here" and Willmar student royalty: homecoming court could help show the world what their schools are like.
Photo: The MNYou garden, via the West Central Tribune.
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