Drag story hour canceled at Somerville library following bomb threat

The event also attracted protesters, who claimed they did not call in the bomb threat, and pro-LGBTQ+ counterprotesters. Police found no credible threat.

Somerville Public Library. Kayla Bartkowski For The Boston Globe

A storytime event at Somerville Public Library featuring a drag queen was canceled Saturday following a bomb threat, officials said, while protesters and counterprotesters gathered outside the library.

City Council President Ben Ewen-Campen said on X that a bomb threat canceled the story time, which was set to feature the Boston chapter of Drag Story Hour. The event was scheduled from 2 to 3 p.m. and was recommended for children aged 4 to 8, according to the library.

Drag Story Hour has also hosted events where storytellers in drag read books at Brookline Public Library and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

“Bigoted right-wing cowards are stooping to new lows every day but we’ll never let them steal our joy,” Ewen-Campen wrote.

I am beyond outraged that a Somerville drag story time today had to be cancelled because of a bomb threat called into the public library. Bigoted right-wing cowards are stooping to new lows every day but we’ll never let them steal our joy.

— Ben Ewen-Campen (@BenForWard3) October 6, 2024

Somerville police did not return a request for comment on Sunday. Cambridge police said their bomb squad responded to the same block of Highland Avenue where the story time was being held at SPL’s Central branch.

A Cambridge police spokesperson did not confirm the threat targeted the library, but said the threat came through email and the building “that the email referenced as the potential threat” was evacuated.

Cambridge police’s team searched the area with dogs around 2 p.m. and determined “there was no potential threat,” a spokesperson said. Somerville Police Chief Shumeane Benford told WCVB Saturday they haven’t determined if the bomb threat was a hate crime.

“I’d stop short of getting into that because we just don’t know at this juncture — it’s a concern and concerning enough where it requires we bring in a number of different resources,” Benford said. “It was a threat against a public space, so we’re going to investigate it.”

Protesters and counterprotesters face off outside

Multiple outlets reported that pro-LGBTQ+ demonstrators outnumbered a small group of protesters who were speaking out against the drag story time. Ewen-Campen told The Boston Globe that “the police were prepared, they were aware there were going to be protesters and counterprotesters, so this was on everyone’s radar.”

Some photos posted to Reddit appear to show a minor scuffle between the protesters. Pro-LGBTQ+ protesters carried Pride flags and a trans flag that said “protect trans kids.” Some protesters against the event held a blue lives matter flag and signs that said “preserve children’s innocence” and “what about pimp story hour?”

Christine H. Doherty, whose Facebook profile lists her as the director of operations for the far-right group Super Happy Fun America, claimed responsibility for the anti-LGBTQ+ demonstration in a deleted post, according to the Globe. Doherty told WCVB in a statement that they weren’t responsible for the bomb threat.

“I am thrilled to announce that the Drag Queen Story Hour for Children ages 4-8 event at the Somerville Public Library was CANCELLED!! VICTORY!!” Doherty wrote in the post, according to the Globe. “Thank you to my three Super Happy Fun America sisters and one surprise guest for actually showing up to protest with me.”

Somerville Public Library’s Central branch, which is next to the high school, recently altered its hours to apparently keep teens causing disruptions out. Somerville Mayor Katjana Ballantyne then restored the hours and announced plans to add private security.

“Hate has no place here in Somerville,” Ballantyne told WCVB. “When any one of us is hurt, we’re all hurt, so it’s just not acceptable.”