Last March, authorities in Coralville, Iowa faced a troubling hoax bomb threat at a junior high school. Detective Hanna Dvorak of the Coralville Police Department speculated, “It appears this all stems from a post made earlier this week by Chaya Raichik and her ‘Libs of TikTok’ account.” The post in question criticized the availability of a book in the school’s library. This scenario is not isolated. A worrying pattern is emerging nationwide.
Chaya Raichik’s social media platform, known for digital heckling of LGBTQ individuals and professionals, has come under intense scrutiny following a series of bomb threats across the United States. In Burbank, California; Minnetonka, Minnesota; Oklahoma City; and Tualatin, Oregon, officials suspect a link to Libs of TikTok’s posts, sparking a surge in violent threats after institutions or individuals were singled out by the account.
Law enforcement officers and government officials have reported 33 instances where people or institutions mentioned by Libs of TikTok received bomb threats or other forms of violent intimidation, 21 of which were bomb threats, mostly targeting schools, made via email. Raichik, on her end, denies any direct involvement, dismissing the narrative as an attempt to discredit her. “They do it to try to paint me as an extremist to discredit me. This ‘b*mb threat’ narrative is really getting old,” she wrote, adding a yawning-face emoji. Despite her disclaimer, her platform’s influence cannot be overlooked as local and federal resources are being mobilized to counter these threats.
Notably, the FBI has observed a general increase in such threats of violence, and is actively assisting in at least 13 jurisdictions to investigate these alarming incidents. Their statement affirms, “The FBI and our partners take all threats of violence seriously and responding to these threats ties up law enforcement resources.”
This surge in threats aligns with a broader pattern of harassment and intimidation, particularly against LGBTQ-supportive institutions and individuals. After Libs of TikTok posts, schools and public figures reported increases in harassment and threats, compelling law enforcement to invest considerable resources into ensuring public safety. Raichik’s influence is also highlighted by her connections to high-profile conservative figures and her appointment to the Oklahoma Department of Education’s Library Media Advisory Committee, which has been contested due to these concerns.
While Raichik distances herself from the actions of those making the threats, the correlation between her posts and the subsequent threats is hard to ignore. Law enforcement agencies, supported by the FBI, continue their pursuit to hold those responsible for these disruptions accountable.
Relevant articles:
– After Libs of TikTok posted, at least 21 bomb threats followed
– Schools Report Bomb Threats Following Libs of Tiktok Anti-LGBTQ Posts, VICE, Wed, 04 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT
– The ‘Libs of TikTok’ Bomb Threats: Unmasking the Unsettling Connection, BNN Breaking, Wed, 07 Feb 2024 19:18:23 GMT
– Twitter account Libs of TikTok blamed for harassment of children’s hospitals, The Washington Post, Fri, 02 Sep 2022 07:00:00 GMT