Vermont school hit with threats after Somali flag
The Winooski School District in Vermont received racist and threatening calls and messages after raising the Somali flag on Dec. 5, 2025 to support its Somali students following President Trump’s remarks about Somalis. The district shut some phone lines and its website to protect staff, increased police presence at schools, and is assisting law enforcement with an investigation, while the White House issued a statement defending Trump’s stance and saying schools should fly American flags.
📌 Key Facts
- Somali flag raised Dec. 5 at Winooski’s K–12 building alongside U.S. and Vermont flags
- District reports a deluge of threats; shut phone lines and website; police stationed at buildings
- About 9% of students are of Somali descent; White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson issued a statement
- Law enforcement investigation is ongoing; community liaison says students are fearful for immigrant parents’ safety
📊 Relevant Data
In Winooski, Vermont, the population is approximately 8,300, with a racial composition of 78.49% White, 11.37% Asian, 4.55% Black or African American, and smaller percentages for other groups as of 2025 projections.
Winooski, Vermont Population 2025 — World Population Review
Minnesota has the largest Somali population in the United States, with approximately 77,030 individuals aged 1 year and over as of recent estimates.
Somali population - Cultural communities — Minnesota Compass
In Minnesota, only 33.6% of Somalis have household incomes at or above 200% of the federal poverty level, compared to about 70-80% for the general Minnesota population, indicating a poverty rate disparity where Somalis are overrepresented in lower income brackets.
Somali population - Cultural communities — Minnesota Compass
Somali refugees in the US often face poverty and difficulty finding work due to factors such as limited education and language barriers, with many arriving from conditions of poverty in countries like Yemen.
Somali Refugee Health Profile — Minnesota Department of Health
Claims of high crime rates among Somalis in Minnesota, such as 80% of Twin Cities crimes being committed by Somalis, have been debunked as wildly inaccurate based on available data.
U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer makes wildly inaccurate claim about Somali crime on national TV — Minnesota Reformer