LEWISTON — On Monday afternoon Jamilo’s mother called from Africa, again, to ask about her daughter’s safety.

Jamilo, 22, had nearly been run down by a swearing white man who complained about her head scarf, known as a hijab, this past Thursday. The Lewiston woman didn’t want her last name used because she fears backlash.

The report prompted Lewiston Mayor Robert Macdonald to release a statement Monday that he and police “will not tolerate the harassment of any members of our community for any reasons.”

Members of the local Somali community are on edge, worried about their safety since Donald Trump was elected president and reports of harassment of Muslims and minorities nationwide increased, said Abdikadir Negeye of the Maine Immigration and Refugee Services.

Jamilo said she was crossing Birch Street on Thursday during her lunch break from her job at Community Concepts.

“Before I cross I look to make sure (it’s safe),” she said. A car was approaching  slowly, she said, adding that she had time to cross. As she entered the street her hoodie fell, revealing her hijab.

“As soon as he saw me he started yelling out, “Frigging Somalis,” and complained about her hijab. “He stepped on the gas so hard. I ran for my life. He came within an inch. I was terrified.”

She ran into the B Street Community Center screaming for help, she said.

She described the driver as a white man in a silver vehicle. She didn’t file a complaint with police because she didn’t get his license plate number.

“What are they going to do?” she asked. From now on, she’ll keep her phone on camera mode.

Another incident happened last week at the Auburn Wal-Mart, Negeye said.

A white woman grabbed a Somali woman’s hijab, saying the Somali woman doesn’t have to wear a hijab and “go back to your country,” Negeye said. Auburn police said no report was filed.

On Tuesday during voting at Longley Elementary School, a white man angry about Somali voters challenged their right to have another person in the booth with them, Lewiston election workers said.

The man made racist comments about Somali voters and wanted to photograph them voting, then he got into the face of a young Somali woman in an intimidating way, election worker Irene MacDougall said.

MacDougall told the man to stop and keep his comments to himself.

Negeye said he sees a connection between the recent harassment and Trump’s victory.

“I’m worried about my wife, my daughters, my mom and other Muslim women,” he said. He’s advising them to be careful when they go out, not to go out alone “and try to be as safe as they can be.”

Before the election, local Somalis sometimes got yelled at by whites, Negeye said, “but words have become action. Trump has been saying all these words about Muslims, minorities, women.”

With a Trump victory, racists feel supported, Jamilo said. Some feel “it’s OK to do what they want.”

In a “60 Minutes” segment that aired Sunday night, Trump told supporters, “Stop it,” when told by reporter Lesley Stahl about increased reports of minorities being mistreated by whites.

Lewiston Mayor Macdonald said he’s proud that Lewiston — one of the most diverse cities in Maine — is also one of the safest.

“I join with President-elect Donald Trump in his call to those who might consider engaging in any harassing behavior to stop it,” Macdonald said Monday.

No incidents of harassment have been reported to police in Lewiston since the election, Macdonald said. Interim Police Chief Brian O’Malley said his department has been in close contact with representatives of the immigrant community and will closely monitor the situation.

“No member of our community should fear going about his or her daily activities,” O’Malley said, adding that police will respond aggressively if any incidents occur.

Post-election PEACE potluck for women Thursday

LEWISTON — YWCA Central Maine will hold a PEACE potluck for women Thursday, Nov. 17, from 5 to 6:30 p.m.

PEACE, which stands for Positive Ethnic and Cultural Exchange, is an initiative to build community among women and emphasize cross-cultural exchange.

All women are welcome. Those attending are encouraged but not required to bring a dish to share. 

For more information about the potluck and post-election conversation, email [email protected], or call the YWCA at 795-4050.