VIDEO: RISD Students Abandon Building Takeover After President Threatens Expulsion
GoLocalProv News Team
VIDEO: RISD Students Abandon Building Takeover After President Threatens Expulsion
According to two RISD staff members, the academic space was "trashed" by the protesters.
The area in which the students barricaded themselves was the furniture department on the second floor of the school building.
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The battle between the pro-Palestine RISD protesters and the school's administration went back and forth all week.
On Wednesday, Williams said the protesters' actions were “undefendable” — and said she would only “continue to advocate for them to gain an audience with the Board of Trustees investment committee” if they vacate the school building and agree not to disrupt commencement.
Statement to Community
On Thursday afternoon, Williams issued the following statement:
Dear RISD Community,
The students who were occupying the second floor have vacated the building.
Public Safety and Facilities staff members were in the building and ensured that everyone safely exited the building. Washington Place is now closed.
Our focus is now on enabling students with work in the building to retrieve it and then to conduct a restorative justice process to restore the space and address the harm that was done.
From the start of this situation, I have affirmed that peaceful protest, freedom of speech, and freedom of expression are the bedrock of our art and design community. We continue to respect and uphold these values.
Sincerely,
Crystal Williams (she/her)
President
VIDEO: Anthony Sionni for GoLocalProv