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Runta News- Seattle, Washington.
Abdisalam Yusuf aka Abdul is a longtime resident of Seattle area and a political campaigner who has strong connections with African and Muslim communities in Puget Sound and beyond. His recent campaign for the incumbent Seattle Mayor who is seeking second term is proving successful as Bruce leading 6 points as of today. Abdul Yusuf, who is also the founder of FF and J Consulting Firm wrote this message on Facebook yesterday.
“I want to express my deepest gratitude to my friends and partners, Nate Miles and Commissioner Hamdi Mohamed, with whom I had the honor of working together to organize nearly 500 volunteers in support of Mayor Bruce Harrell’s campaign, alongside Councilmember Girmay Zahilay and Mayor Mohamed Egal of SeaTac, whose leadership and partnership strengthened our shared message of unity.
Together, we built a broad and diverse coalition representing African and African American (Black) communities and our Punjabi friends and allies — united by faith, service, and shared purpose. Our team included over 280 taxi drivers, more than 100 African daycare owners, 28 gas station owners, and many other small-business and community leaders. Among them were Muslim imams, African and African American Christian clergy, and Sikh religious leaders from the Gurdwara, who all worked side by side to make sure our communities were heard across Seattle and King County.
I wish I could personally name every single volunteer who stood with us — your commitment, passion, and energy carried this movement. Please know that there will be a celebration event organized by the Black communities and their Punjabi friends in the coming weeks to honor your contributions and the unity you helped build.
While the vote count is still ongoing, Mayor Bruce Harrell, Councilmember Girmay Zahilay, and Mayor Mohamed Egal of SeaTac are all currently leading — a reflection of the coalition’s strength and the dedication of those who refused to give up, even when the odds seemed uncertain.
Still, this election reminded us of a hard truth: some within our broader community tried to play both sides — showing public support while quietly working for the opposition. That kind of double-dealing hurts more than open disagreement, but it also teaches us that true partnership is proven by consistency, not convenience.
Some establishment voices, political groups, and even ill-informed or biased media encourage communities like ours to participate — but only when we follow their preferred choices. When we organize independently and speak with our own voice, they question our motives. But we will not be silenced. Our work is rooted in transparency, integrity, and empowerment — not permission.
This coalition showed that unity, loyalty, and accountability must be protected and rewarded. Whether the races are won or lost, we have already succeeded in proving that when Black communities, immigrant families, and our Punjabi allies stand together, our collective influence is undeniable.
One coalition. One purpose. One community. One Seattle.
#OneCoalition #OnePurpose #OneCommunity #OneSeattle”
Abdul Yusuf, a member of the East African community specifically Somali is well-known for his long-time advocacy on behalf of rideshare drivers as he is the founder of the company Eastside for Hire.
