Mankato Mayor: 'Remember who we are'

(NOTE: This article was published in the Mankato Free Press, Jan. 17. However, due to a paywall, it's not accessible to everyone. The editors of Vox Verax have taken the initiative to publish it due to its importance and timeliness.)

By Mayor Majwa Massad of Mankato, Minnesota

I hear you, Mankato.

Monday night’s City Council meeting was heavy with emotion. The room was filled with fear, anger and deep concern for our neighbors. I want you to know that I did not just hear your words — I felt them — and I am carrying them with me.

As your mayor, and as an immigrant who is now a proud United States citizen, I understand how deeply personal this moment is for so many in our community. My parents came to this country seeking safety, opportunity and, more importantly, dignity. I know the anxiety that can live just beneath the surface when families feel uncertain about their future. I also know the incredible strength, resilience and contribution immigrants bring to Mankato every single day.

Let me say this clearly: You matter. Your safety matters. Your humanity matters.

Many of you asked why more cannot be done, and I understand that frustration. I share it deep in my soul.

As local leaders we often find ourselves in a difficult space — one I would not have understood as a citizen — which is wanting to act boldly while also operating within laws and systems that limit what cities and local public safety departments are legally able to do. Our police officers and first responders are bound by laws. Not because they lack compassion, but because violating them would place themselves, our city and our residents at risk.

That reality does not mean indifference. It does not mean inaction, and it certainly does not mean that we’re turning away from your pain.

What it does mean is that leadership, especially in moments like these, requires a delicate balance of clarity and passion.

I want you to know I will leave no stone unturned in exploring every lawful option available to protect our residents. I will continue to ask the hard questions, to push for more clarity, and to advocate for policies that reflect the values of this community, which is dignity and safety for all. I will speak up, even when it is uncomfortable, and I will listen, even when the emotions are raw.

I also ask all of us, as neighbors, to remember who we are.

Mankato has always been a place where people show up for one another and where we believe public safety and compassion are not in conflict, but partners. Where disagreements do not erase our shared humanity. Where we channel our anger into purpose, and our fear into resolve.

I know I will not satisfy everyone. That is the reality of leadership. But I promise you this: I will not stop working to find the balance between protecting our residents, honoring the law and standing up for the people who call Mankato home.

If you are scared, know that you are not alone.If you are angry, know that your voice is heard.If you are searching for hope, know that this community still holds it.

Together, we will keep talking. Together, we will keep pushing for better, and together, we will continue striving toward a Mankato where every person, regardless of where they come from, feels safe and seen.