In a shameful move, the Providence City Council in Rhode Island has decided to fly the Palestinian flag at City Hall in the state’s capital, igniting a heated debate over its commitment to foreign countries rather than the United States.
While critics have voiced their disapproval, city officials have emphasized that the Palestinian flag will not replace any American flags. They pointed out that Providence City Hall regularly displays a range of flags to commemorate various events and honor the many ethnic and cultural communities that make the city strong. A spokesperson for the Providence City Council reiterated that this is a long-standing practice.
However, the Palestinian flag represents more than cultural identity—it’s also the flag flown by Hamas, a terrorist organization responsible for the brutal October 7 attacks on Israel, which left many Israelis dead or injured. It’s worth noting that Hamas has also taken the lives of American citizens, making the flag’s presence deeply controversial for many.
“I've heard so many members of the Jewish and broader Israel community saying that they feel threatened, attacked, and unsafe,” Maria Friedman with the Rhode Island Coalition for Israel said.
The city’s Mayor, Brett Smiley, said he was disappointed in the move.
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“I am disappointed that the City Council would use their position of leadership to further ignite tensions in our city,” he said. “If it was up to me, I wouldn’t have flown this flag. It came in from a constituent via the city council, and I had no grounds to deny it.”
However, critics argue that Smiley didn’t just fall short; he dodged taking a meaningful stand when it mattered most.
“I think the mayor could've done more to take a stance and say this is not okay,” Friedman said. “He said with the two constituents that requested this flag to go up, that he had no grounds to deny their request. So what's to stop any group from flying a KKK flag or any kind of flag.”
