NORTH SMITHFIELD – A LGBTQ+ flag that flies outside of North Smithfield Public Library grabbed the attention this week of a right wing online influencer with millions of followers, drawing national attention and some criticism.
An account dubbed “Libs of TikTok” posted photos of the facility on Tuesday, April 14, noting the library does not fly an American flag and adding, “our tax dollars are funding this.”
The account is operated by far right personality Chaya Raichik, who has been accused of inciting hate with mocking and derogatory commentary about those on the political left. The Wikipedia entry about the Libs of TikTok’s various social media accounts states that at least 60 bomb threats have been linked to her various posts.
As of Friday, the post had been shared on Twitter/X more than 2,000 times and had upwards of 8,400 likes. The same post on Facebook had more than 2,600 comments. Many defended the library or called the rainbow flag a non-issue.
The rainbow flag, widely known as a symbol of support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals, has been hanging at the Main Street library for some time, and was reportedly purchased by an employee.
A share of the post on a local page also brought out mixed reactions, with some stating the American flag should come first on a public building, and others supporting the library’s message of inclusion.
The issue prompted resident Kevin Carriere to send a letter to Town Administrator Scott Gibbs urging him to alert local and state police of the issue.
“I am deeply concerned for the safety and wellbeing of our librarians and our building after seeing this post,” noted Carriere in a note this week. “This account has been marked as a hate extremist by the Southern Poverty Law Center.”
“Regardless of one’s stance on the presence of a flag that represents welcoming, acceptance, and community, we all should be concerned that this hate extremist has explicitly called out our town by name,” Carriere added.
The image did bring out much vitriol, debate and mockery across social media this week. Fans of the controversial influencer expressed disgust on Twitter/X stating the flag should be taken down, and federal funding to the library should be cut.
North Smithfield Police Chief Tim Lafferty, however, confirmed on Thursday that there had been no threats reported against the facility.
Library Director Renee Bichan, who recently replaced longtime Director Susan Dubois, did not respond on Thursday to NRI NOW’s request for comment.
Who is Chaya Raichik?
Suzy Q Your points are well taken. MY main message is to say why there’s so much ridicule and contempt directed towards Non Hetero people. One thought that I have is that many of the people who feel such contempt for Non Hetero equate them with pedophiles. I myself am a Survivor of a pedophile in 1961, when I was 8 years old. I do great deal of advocacy and moderating Therapy groups for Survivors, and know a lot about some things. Many of the Right Wing hate mongers try to say that that pedophiles are the same as Non Hetero people. This is my issue here, hearing people do Rhetoric Bombing about things they know nothing about. The fact is that pedophiles are attracted to both genders of CHILDREN
Suzy Q, I also take your point well about so much stuff on the Internet not being appropriate
Last week I joined a group of people in DC to petition for laws holding Big Tech accountable for not regulating the Sex Predators that abound on the Internet . I feel lucky about being able to go to hearings and conferences and learn from other people. The knowledge I gain helps me deal with some of the hurtful things that some people do and say
Can I place any organization/business/religious flags at the library/town hall/police station? No!
Who determines what can be placed on public buildings? Not the employees of a town owned building. Manager was wrong to allow the flag.
Take the flag down and put it on their home. Simple and effective solution.
No one will object.
“I am deeply concerned for the safety and wellbeing of our librarians and our building after seeing this post,” noted Carriere in a note this week. “This account has been marked as a hate extremist by the Southern Poverty Law Center.”
I’ll leave this quote right here..
A group recently indicted for secretly financing extreme hate groups including , you guessed it white supremest neo nazi groups, and yes the KKK. Projection fail.
Odd how recently no other public libraries from route 44 north found it necessary to display a sexual proclivity guised as a “”Welcome” marker. Other than the old (250 years) standby National ensign American flag.
Why do far right people care so much about peoples’ private sex lives? I figure this means that people like Chaya, whoever that is, have a lot of personal insecurities. I myself am hetero and really don’t care how another person describes their sexual identity. It’s a non issue to me
Flying flags doesn’t mean all that much to me anyway
By the same token Claude, why do gay ppl have to tell us their preference? I guess they feel empowered, and want to share their decisions. But as you say, does anyone really need to know. No. But to each his own. Changing times. Nothing is held private anymore. About anything it seems. Lol.
Support your local library, especially ones that hang a flag saying WELCOME. For some people, a library can feel like a refuge. They do some much with so little and funding is being cut all the time. Show your own true colors by not letting the haters win.
Just fly both flags. There, done.
Where is the United States flag, the state of Rhode Island flag or maybe even the Town of North Smithfield flag? Doesn’t seem very inclusive to me. As a taxpayer in this town I guess I should just shut up and pay my taxes! The other thing you learn from living in this town for decades, DO NOT ask the police for help or express opinions. The NS cops are only interested in there tattoo sleeves and there shiny new police station. Mr. Gibbs turned out to be a lame administrator also. Don’t worry NS folks, before long we’ll have all the colors of the rainbow on municipal buildings and lots of “affordable housing” to enjoy! Where I live every weekend the road becomes a drag strip racetrack! Leave the police alone though, they are too busy counting their reps.
Well said!
As someone who protects what my children are exposed to, flying that flag suggests that there may be agendas pushed in the form of confusing books for my children on display, so thank you for blatantly showing where to avoid bringing my children.
Oh not to be snarky, but if your children go to school, and get on the internet from time to time, unless there is a block, they see and read far more than you know! Open the world to them, it lets them make important decisions for themselves. Undo the hate. There is good to be learned.
If they’re confused by reality, that’s really on you.
By some of the logic here- if they didn’t fly that flag then they would not be inclusive?
What if that flag is not on display it means those groups are not welcome?
Why do we need that flag if for no other reason than to create division and get people riled up.
The world would be a much better place if people just minded their own business. Who someone loves is no one’s business but their own. Despite what the felon-in-chief and his far right sycophants want you to believe, diversity and inclusion are a good thing. There is nothing wrong with people living their own lives and they should expect to not be discriminated against for believing differently that you do. MYOB!
So agree. Funny thing, many protect our country, and they are also doctors, nurses, military, teachers, roofers, firefighters, police, hairdressers, etc, all around you. Yet you would never know. But one flag drives some ppl nuts. The irony, and how comical really. And how sad. One would think in this day and age, things had become better than this. But again, one flag can drive em nuts.
You people are unstable. How did she get the picture? From someone in your district! FYI if the politics were reversed I would agree absolutely. Leftists are violent, exclusionary and hateful towards anyone who isn’t part of the cult. I can’t wait for the made up threats lol.
As usual, another MAGAt displaying the one thing they do well…hypocrisy. The left are “violent, exclusionary, and hateful”? Maybe you should watch some of the footage from Jan 6, then tell us about violence and hatefulness.
We all have to live together in our community. I find the diversity a wonderful thing for our town. I love the library. All the people who have time for hate should try to check out a book and read. History tells us that we are all free and all deserve the right to exist.
and God forbid they join a volunteer cause and attempt to help the community in a little, and small meaninfull way. Do good things that join the community, not divide. Learn to unhate. I appreaciate your sentiments above ^. 🙂
…and may I suggest a history book, maybe about 1930’s Germany. Then you’ll see exactly where this country is headed.
I could have sworn that’s what the message was during the Revolutionary war AND Ninth Amendment: “Declares that rights not specifically listed in the Constitution may still exist and are retained by the people.” Walk on non-believers in our Constitution. You may be the ones who Aren’t “American”.
Heaven forbid a local library signals to everyone they’re welcome to check out a book and read.
As the parent of a librarian who is also a member of the LGBTQ community I totally support the flying of that flag.