Pro-Palestinian student protesters occupy, barricade RISD campus building

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Students from the Rhode Island School of Design occupied and barricaded themselves inside a campus building Monday night.

RISD Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) said protesters are demanding RISD promote a permanent ceasefire by divesting from companies that “facilitate the genocide in Gaza.”

The protest began at 9 a.m. Monday with 23 RISD students and a community member sitting in the Providence Washington Building refusing to leave.

Organizers said participants occupied and barricaded the second floor of the building around 7 p.m.

Both the Providence Police Department and RISD Public Safety Office responded to the scene.

“Students are prepared to be arrested,” said protester Oliver McGovern. “We hope it doesn’t get to that point, we hope this reaches a peaceful consensus…but they’re ready to sit it out for as long as it happens, regardless of what happens.”

ABC 6 News reached out to RISD for comment, and officials shared the following statement:

“We have and continue to affirm our students’ right to freedom of expression, freedom of speech, and peaceful assembly. RISD condemns violence and injustice, and we decry antisemitism, Islamophobia and all forms of hate. The wellbeing of all of our students has been and remains our top priority, and we continue to support all members of our community.”

The school added that President Crystal Williams was on site meeting with the protesters.

This is a developing story — ABC 6 will provide updates as they become available.