Somali community is condemning a recent outreach campaign from Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher

Local advocates are stepping forward to criticize a recent letter campaign carried out by Fletcher that they say targeted specific Somali youth and families ahead of the Minnesota State Fair.

The letter is asking those families to help crackdown on gang-related behavior, and that is not sitting well with Somali leaders.

Executive director of the Islamic Association of North America, Imam Abdulle, says local community centers and faith leaders are already organizing meetings with law enforcement to find collaborative solutions, that he says avoids stigmatizing rhetoric.

"We welcome everyone, whether from law enforcement, state officials, to work with us, come to us, be with us," Abdulle says. "Because we need to solve these issues together."

He added that community members plan to keep an ongoing dialogue with law enforcement to ensure safety measures, respect and protect all residents.

Abdulle says the letter and ask from the sheriff only serves to divide community even more.

"He is, as he says, trying to solve an issue, a problem, but he's creating much more problems that he cannot solve at all," Abdulle explains.

Abdulle went on to say that it is dangerous for Sherriff Fletcher to label the whole Somali community as being "involved in gang activity" and scapegoating Somali parents as the problem.

The letter comes after Ramsey County Attorney John Choi and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison filed a lawsuit earlier this month against two gangs, in an attempt to prevent violence and keep them from attending the fair.

Prosecutors argued they have been violent before at the fair, and recently posted on social media plans for a "big fight."

Seven of the 10 people involved have said they will not attend, and will have no other legal action taken against them if they comply. The seven also denied they are members of gangs.

The three remaining contested the allegations, and the injunction will prohibit them from associating with other known gang members, confronting or intimidating people, using gang signs, forcing someone to join their gangs, or preventing someone from leaving their gangs at the State Fair and within a proposed "Safety Zone" from August 27 until September 8.

WCCO has reached out to Fletcher's office but is still waiting for him to comment on the criticism.