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Boston Globe
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Providence mayor signs order setting new rules after Palestinian flag controversy
Related : Advertisement The mayor's office quickly crafted the policy this week after Get Rhode Map A weekday briefing from veteran Rhode Island reporters, focused on the things that matter most in the Ocean State. Enter Email Sign Up Smiley called it 'divisive,' while Council President Rachel Miller, who requested to raise the flag, said it was meant to celebrate Palestinian cultural contributions. 'I know that it is a very heated topic,' Miller said last week. 'The message is that we all have a right to exist in the city of Providence, and we all make contributions to the city of Providence.' Smiley traveled to Israel earlier this month, and the request from Miller to raise the Palestinian flag came in while he was there. He said he felt he had to approve it based on Providence's lack of policy. Advertisement The full council did not vote on the decision to fly the flag, and some councilors objected to it. Around 200 people attended the rally at the flag event: those celebrating that Palestinians were being recognized and counter-protesters who decried the decision to raise the flag as appearing to glorify Hamas, the terror group that governs Gaza. The new order was crafted with a In its opinion, the high court said since Boston didn't have a written policy about flags, and the city routinely approved hundreds of flag requests — including one from a local bank — it was allowing its flagpole to be a forum for private free speech. But the court noted that a city could have a policy declaring its flagpole to be a forum for 'government speech,' and then the government could approve or deny flags based on the content of the flag. The legal issue has continued to plague towns and cities since the decision came down. A Smiley's new order says the eastern flagpole, which juts out in front of Providence City Hall, is 'not intended to serve as a forum of free expression by the public.' The Pride flag is expected to be the next ceremonial flag to be raised. Advertisement It's unclear if the Palestinian flag would be allowed to fly again under the new order. Since Smiley has said he would not approve it, it would need to survive a vote by the City Council. In an email sent out by the Rhode Island Democratic Party on Friday, Smiley said it was time to 'turn down the temperature' on the Israel-Palestinian debate, following the 'Providence's Jewish community is strong and vibrant - but we are also frightened,' Smiley said. 'We can all agree that the loss and destruction on both sides is devastating. We can all agree that de-escalation and dialogue is necessary for a path to peace. And we can all agree that we cannot - we must not - let this conflict halfway around the world breed further division, hate, and violence in our own backyard.' Steph Machado can be reached at
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Newsmakers 5/23/2025: Reporters' roundtable
EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — This week on Newsmakers: Tim White and Ted Nesi are joined by Target 12's Eli Sherman and Alexandra Leslie to break down the week in the news, including flag and budget controversies at Providence City Hall, the U.S. House reconciliation bill, next year's World Cup and more. Prefer your Newsmakers on the go?Subscribe to our podcast!Apple | Spotify Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
New York Post
15-05-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Rhode Island capital to hoist Palestinian flag at city hall, citing diversity
Providence, Rhode Island, officials have accepted a request to fly the Palestinian flag Friday at City Hall in the state's capital. City officials emphasized that no American flags are being displaced by the display, adding there have been several other flags raised over the government office in the past. 'Providence City Hall displays many different flags throughout the year to mark different occasions and honor the many ethnic and cultural backgrounds and traditions that make our city strong,' a spokesperson for Providence City Council told Fox News Digital Wednesday. The spokesperson added the city has also flown the Dominican flag, Irish flag, Armenian flag and the Israeli flag in recent months. 'Like those examples, this idea came to us from the community as part of a request to honor the important role Palestinian-Americans play in the fabric of our beautifully diverse city,' the spokesperson said. Council President Rachel Miller will display the flag during Thursday's city council meeting and then outside City Hall Friday. 3 A flyer created by the Providence City Hall promoting the flag raising on May 16, 2025. Providence City Council/X 3 Protesters wave the Palestinian and Lebanese flags on the steps to the Rhode Island State House on March 17, 2025. Getty Images When asked about the decision, a representative for Democratic Mayor Brett Smiley suggested the ceremony was the city council's prerogative. 'In Providence, the executive branch and City Council are two separate branches of government. The Providence City Council, not Mayor Smiley's office, will be raising the Palestinian flag on Friday,' said Josh Estrella, a spokesman for Smiley. A report from GoLocalProvidence added the Palestinian flag is reportedly becoming more prevalent at City Hall overall. Typically, the indoor chamber only flies the state and national flags, the report said. Fox News Digital reached out for comment from Rhode Island Democratic Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse and Senate Armed Services Committee ranking member Jack Reed, D-RI. 3 Buses pass by Providence City Hall on May 28, 2020. Boston Globe via Getty Images Fox News Digital contacted the State Department to ask where it stands on the flag debate given the ongoing Israel–Palestinian conflict. A request for comment was also received by the office of Rep. Gabe Amo, D-RI, who represents much of the Ocean State's capital region.
