The city of Columbus, Ohio, is facing backlash on social media after posting a message celebrating Somali Independence Day.
The Columbus Rec & Parks department shared a message on a social media platform on Wednesday, stating, "Happy Somali Independence Day! As we celebrate the unification of the Trust Territory of Somaliland and the State of Somaliland into the Somali Republic in 1960, City Hall will be raising the flag of Somalia."
Conservatives quickly took to the platform to express their confusion and disapproval, with some questioning why the city would celebrate Somali independence so strongly, particularly given the proximity to the 250th anniversary of American independence.
White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller posted, "Columbus, Ohio raising the flag of Somalia for America 250." Journalist Mark Hemingway added, "No American government building should ever be raising another country's flag. Ugh."
Attorney and political commentator Mehek Cooke expressed her outrage, stating, "City Hall is not a foreign embassy. As an Ohioan, I am repulsed by the anti-Americanism here. Our leaders treat foreign nationalism as sacred while treating American patriotism as controversial. America's public buildings should honor America."
ACT for America founder Brigitte Gabriel posted, "This is AMERICA, not Little Somalia. Flying the Somali flag at City Hall isn't 'celebration.' It's cultural surrender. Other nations aren't parallel cultures here to dominate ours. Remove that flag. Remove the officials who demand it."
Daily Wire investigative reporter Luke Rosiak questioned the purpose of the celebration, asking, "Excuse me? Why the f--- is Columbus, Ohio celebrating 'the unification of the Trust Territory of Somaliland…' when America turns 250 this week?"
Federalist reporter Brianna Lyman expressed a more extremist view, suggesting that individuals who celebrate Somali independence should be deported, stating, "They all need to go back. They love their third world country so much, send them back. Denaturalize and deport."
Ohio Republican state Rep. Brian Stewart echoed similar sentiments, stating, "One more way in which we encourage the refusal to assimilate."
