That afternoon, Frey swung by Karmel Plaza, a south Minneapolis mall where hundreds of Somali Americans run shops and restaurants.

At one point, Frey, who speaks a little Somali, albeit poorly, saw a gaggle of Somali men about to dig into a bowl of rice, goat meat and bananas. When they invited him to join, he didn’t hesitate to sit down and dive into the communal plate with his fingers.

As much as it was a typical round of campaigning, it was also a reminder of how much had changed in five years, for the city, and for Frey, who was clearly having fun.

About a year ago, Frey was given a big, framed photo of that moment from 2020 outside his home. Showing him surrounded by protesters, the picture seems like an artifact from another era.

Rather than hang it on his wall, he put it in his closet.