Utah’s open-hearted and welcoming attitude toward refugees was on full display Saturday as hundreds gathered in a Salt Lake City park to celebrate World Refugee Day.
In sharp contrast to President Donald Trump’s harsh rhetoric toward immigrants, refugee bans and controversy over his “zero tolerance” policy at the U.S.-Mexico border, some of the 65,000 refugees who have settled in the Beehive State happily spread their stories, music, dancing, food and mutual support across the green lawns of Fairmont Park — including 11 residents who became new U.S. citizens.
Among them was Ubah Ahmed Adbi, 30, who left Somalia amid that African nation’s ongoing civil war, which has left thousands dead and displaced many more.