Who is Chaya Raichik? Everything to know about the Libs of TikTok creator
Chaya Raichik, the woman behind the "Libs of TikTok" social media account, was named to an Oklahoma library media advisory committee by Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Education Ryan Walters on Tuesday.
But, who is Raichik? And, what is “Libs of TikTok”?
Here’s everything we know.
Who is Chaya Raichik?
Raichik is a former Brooklyn real estate agent who grew up in Los Angeles. She created the @LibsofTikTok handle on Twitter, now X, in April 2021. "Libs of TikTok" has over 2.8 million followers and reposts TikTok videos of users sharing liberal views while adding derisive conservative commentary.
The account has become a creator of, and a force multiplier for, right-wing outrage, particularly on LGBTQ+ issues. On X, it has been amplified by the platform’s owner Elon Musk, and a hive of conservative politicians, media personalities and far-right online influencers, including former Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson and podcaster Joe Rogan.
More: Libs of TikTok creator Chaya Raichik appointed to Oklahoma's library review committee
Why did Chaya Raichik join Oklahoma's Library Media Advisory Committee?
In a media statement, Walters said he put Raichik on the advisory committee because she was on the front lines showing the world exactly what the radical left is all about — lowering standards, porn in schools and pushing "woke indoctrination" on kids.
“Her unique perspective is invaluable as part of my plan to make Oklahoma schools safer for kids and friendly to parents," Walters said.
Did "Libs of TikTok" cause bomb threats to an Oklahoma school?
Last year, a "Libs of TikTok" post drew attention to a video posted by an elementary school librarian in Tulsa.
In the 16-second video, a librarian enters a classroom with books in her hand and laughs along in a lip sync of a Ludacris song. The caption on the video says, “POV: Teachers in your state are dropping like flies but you are still just not quite finished pushing your woke agenda.”
The video had been edited from her original TikTok to include the teacher's name and school at the end.
After the post was made, the Ellen Ochoa Elementary School in Tulsa received a bomb threat on Aug. 22. That day Ryan Walters had also retweeted the "Libs of TikTok" post.
The threat appeared to have been made in retaliation for a librarian's public post on TikTok.
Another "Libs of TikTok" post identified a Western Heights Public Schools principal as a drag performer and accused various Oklahoma school districts of having “pornographic” books in their libraries.
More: Ryan Walters under fire after retweeting video cited as cause for school bomb threat
What kind of work will Chaya Raichik do on the committee?
In the statement, Walters did not specify Raichik’s job functions.
The Oklahoma State Department of Education told The Oklahoman in an email Tuesday that the committee’s main objective is to decide whether a book in question violates the provisions outlined in Oklahoma's Media Program Rule. The rule in the Oklahoma Administrative Code is aimed at "removing pornographic or sexualized content from public schools in the State of Oklahoma," the department wrote.
According to the department, the committee is a volunteer advisory board appointed by Walters and is made up of parents, current or retired librarians and English literature teachers.
The department did not immediately respond to a request for additional details about how the committee functions, when it was created or who else is a member of the group.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Who is Chaya Raichik? Libs of TikTok creator on Oklahoma library committee
