The Hennepin County Attorney's Office announced five charges Friday, including property damage because of bias, against the man accused of smashing videos at several East African-owned businesses in south Minneapolis last week.
As a Go Fund Me page continues to collection donations, business went on as usual Friday. There were still remnants of the incident Sept. 18 with cardboard filling some windows along East Frankin; signs reading "Seward stands together: no more violence" filled even more.
"It's sad, but in the midst of this unfortunate incident, the entire community has rallied behind these businesses," CAIR-Minnesota Executive Director Jaylani Hussein said.
RELATED: Man facing bias, property damage charges after Somali-owned businesses' windows smashed
Hussein, whose office is just down the street from the affected businesses, describes what it's been like the last eight days.
"The impact that this has had on them both psychologically, mentally, their businesses and also the impact that it's had on their customers," he said of the hardships. "At the same time, I think this community is very resilient and the neighborhood really stepped up so far."
Harlin St. John, 36, allegedly threw rocks into the windows causing more than $8,000 in damage.
St. John is due to make his first court appearance Monday. According to court documents, St. John told police he did it in retaliation because he believed someone of Somali descent shot a family member...and that he hates "the Somalis."
