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Anti-Israel protesters take over building at Rhode Island school

Two dozen students and community members were given a deadline of 8 a.m. to clear the building.

Published: May 7, 2024 8:47am

Anti-Israel demonstrators at the Rhode Island School of Design are occupying an administrative building and demanding the school divest from Israel.

Even though the protesters were given a deadline of 8 a.m. ET Tuesday to clear the building, the school's Students for Justice in Palestine chapter issued an alert on its Instagram telling people to "show up in support" of the protest.

The Rhode Island School of Design borders Brown University and it is academically affiliated with Brown, where the school reached an agreement with protesters last week. That agreement entailed allowing students to speak with Brown's investment advisory committee about divesting from Israel-linked companies and promising to not retaliate against any of the Gaza Solidarity Encampment demonstrators. 

The design school's administrators have yet to announce consequences for demonstrators if they do not comply with the 8 a.m. deadline, per The Brown Daily Herald, a local student newspaper.

The occupation began with 24 students and community members around 7 p.m. on Wednesday, according to the design school's Students for Justice in Palestine. The building, 20 Washington Place, was also renamed Fathi Ghaben Place by demonstrators after a Gazan artist who passed away earlier this year.

Follow Madeleine Hubbard on X or Instagram.

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