RISD pro-Palestinian protesters reject college’s proposed changes

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — RISD Student Justice for Palestine (RSJP) representatives met with RISD President Crystal Williams and Provost Touba Ghadessi Tuesday to relay their demands that the college divest from interests in Israel.

According to a statement from the student group, “partial concessions” proposed by the college were rejected by RSJP, and they would continue their campus protest and the barricading of 22 students inside the college’s administration building.

The college’s proposal, according to RSJP, included:

• Clarity of finances, ESG policies, and the history and past relationships with Textron
• An annual conversational overview and investment forum open to RISD faculty, staff and students with RISD CFO David Rosatti

RSJP stated that they would continue their occupation of the second floor of Fathi Ghaben Place behind the barricade and “stand firm” in solidarity with Palestinian liberation and continue to demand divestment.

ABC6 reached out to RISD for comment on this matter, and received the following statement from Jaime Marland, Senior Director of Public Relations:

Students continue to demonstrate inside one of our campus buildings, occupying an actively used academic space. You can find President Williams’ latest campus update from last night on our website.

https://twitter.com/NationalSJP/status/1788261948343124473