The City of Providence, RI ignited a political powder keg by planning to raise the Palestinian flag over City Hall – an ill-advised symbolic gesture that provoked a torrent of outrage and a solid 9 out of 10 on the Drama Meter.
City councilors invited the public to the flag-raising, scheduled for Friday at noon, instantly sparking a local firestorm. The online backlash was scorching: “This is really disgusting… Will you be flying a Nazi flag next week?” one commenter seethed, while another asked, “What is wrong with you?”.
Mayor Brett Smiley distanced himself, calling the stunt a divisive move by the council. Economic development officials should now worry that this flag fiasco, which has nothing to do with filling potholes or approving building permits, might scare away investors who see a city prioritizing performative global posturing over basic governance.
In Providence, the cost of virtue signaling may be measured in stalled projects and fleeing capital.
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