Providence's new flag policy isn't just about flags. It's about who gets to be seen, and who is silenced.
A weekday briefing from veteran Rhode Island reporters, focused on the things that matter most in the Ocean State.
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One major problem with the new flag policy is inconsistency. There was no need for special approvals before. Why now?
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Second, the policy gives too much power to a few. It lets either the mayor or the Providence City Council decide who gets to be represented. This is dangerous because it makes public visibility subject to the comfort of a few officials rather than any clear or fair process.
Third, this move discredits the real message behind raising the Palestinian flag: solidarity with people experiencing deep suffering.
feels
bad to those of us who are part of the Muslim and Arab community. It feels like we are being told our pain is too controversial to acknowledge.
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This incident isn't isolated. It reflects a broader pattern known as the 'Palestine Exception' to free speech, where advocacy for Palestinian rights is often met with disproportionate censorship and suppression. A report by
So what should happen now? Either the city allows all communities to be represented through flag-raising, or it stops the practice altogether. There's no middle ground that's fair. The policy must apply equally and without favoritism or fear. If Providence wants to stand for diversity, it must stand for
all
of us, not just the ones who make people comfortable.
If the city is serious about equity, it needs to
show
it — not just
say
it.
Khaled Soulaiman is a first-generation Syrian Lebanese Muslim and a student at College Unbound in Providence.
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