Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters’ decision to appoint “Libs of TikTok” creator Chaya Raichik to the Oklahoma State Department of Education Library Media Advisory Committee is a particularly egregious example of elected officials trying to divert the public’s attention away from real issues to stoke division and gain national notoriety. The appointment is a calculated move that epitomizes conservative officials choosing sensationalism over the needs of their constituents.
The appointment is a calculated move that epitomizes conservative officials choosing sensationalism over the needs of their constituents.
Raichik is legendary in far-right social media circles for spreading misinformation and hate speech, much of which has targeted LGBTQ people. Walters shared some of her “Libs of Tik Tok” posts last year and, after he did, there were dozens of bomb threats throughout Tulsa Public Schools and death threats against a teacher. (Those threats were deemed noncredible.) Raichik’s posts have often preceded threats against public school teachers and health care professionals across the nation. Raichik has said she has “denounced violence” and says there’s no proof that the threats came from her followers.
Raichik did not respond to a set of questions sent by NBC News last week. The “Libs of TikTok” account replied to a request for comment on X with a compilation of drawings seemingly from young adult novels that depict sexual encounters and asked: “Do you think this is appropriate for kids in school?” After that NBC News report, she reiterated that “extra-legal violence and threats of violence have no place in our society.”
In a statement, Walters said of the appointment, “Chaya Raichik and I have developed a strong working relationship to rid schools of liberal, woke values.”
Raichik is not only unqualified to serve on this committee but she should be disqualified. According to the State Department of Education’s rules for…
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