Negotiations at a standstill as pro-Palestinian protest continues at RISD

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — 23 protestors have been barricaded inside of a RISD administration building in support of Palestine for three days now.

The outside of the Providence Washington Building stayed quiet Wednesday.

There have been no new negotiations since student protestors rejected the university’s ideas to possibly move forward, but students tell ABC 6 News they remain steadfast in their protest by make sure they’re eating well and staying healthy.

Students say faculty provided food Wednesday which was delivered to the 22 students and one community member protesting on the second floor of the Providence Washington Building using a pulley system.

Students inside also started painting murals on the walls in support of Palestine.

One of their demands is for the university to suspend all funding from the Rayon Foundation Trust, as well as refuse any future relationship with Textron, which the university said they cannot do.

President Crystal Williams said in a statement that suspending finances from the Rayon Trust would negatively impact the academic program and student financial aid.

“We understand that, respectfully, it’s not our job to figure out the financial situation of the school and we understand war money is war money regardless of its effects on the future. We also think it’s great to focus on RISD’s cultural position and our demands also meet that which she also failed to address like presidential condemnation and a public statement on Palestine,” said Luca Antonio Collanino with RISD Students for Justice in Palestine.

Williams also said she isn’t planning to make public comments of any activity in Gaza.

Meanwhile, those students plan to stay inside the Providence Washington building until their demands are met, causing classes to be moved elsewhere.