Dear Members of the Brown and RISD Communities,

We are writing to address the terrible threats against the Brown-RISD Hillel Weiner Center that our campuses were notified about this morning. Employees there received deeply disturbing antisemitic emails that included threats of violence against them personally and Brown-RISD Hillel.

Our primary concern is for the safety and security of members of the Brown and RISD communities, including the Brown-RISD Hillel community. Threats of violence against anyone on our campuses are completely unacceptable, and we are committed to working with law enforcement to do everything possible to help identify and prosecute the perpetrator(s).

This comes at an especially difficult time of distress on our campuses. Our students, faculty and staff continue to grapple with the deaths of Israelis, Palestinians and others in the wake of the October 7 attacks, as well as a despicable act of violence against a member of the Brown community here in the United States last November, and increases in reports of antisemitism, Islamophobia and other forms of hate targeting national origin and identity both nationally and on our campuses.

This is a time to reflect on who we are as educational communities that value human dignity and reject violence, racism, discrimination and intimidation. Our fervent hope is that, in this difficult time, each of us in the Brown and RISD communities renews our commitment to eschew all forms of hatred and work toward mutual understanding.

Our ongoing focus is making sure that members of our communities are protected and feel safe. As shared in campus safety alerts sent earlier today, the departments of public safety for both Brown and RISD continue to work with the Providence Police Department to investigate the source of the threats and ensure the ongoing safety and security of Brown-RISD Hillel. Part of their swift and immediate response was to reach out to federal, state and local law enforcement authorities, and to coordinate with the Rhode Island State Fusion Center, which gathers and shares information about threats between law enforcement agencies.

While we have been assured that, given the nature of the emailed threats, there is no evidence of ongoing concern for personal safety (and operations in the building can continue), robust security plans are in place to ensure the security of the building and the operations that take place there. Safety plans are also in place for the individuals who received the threats.

If at any time you learn about threats to yourself or others, please contact the Providence police, as well as public safety at your respective campus — 401-863-4111 for Brown community members and 401-454-6666 for RISD community members.

Sincerely,

Christina H. Paxson
President, Brown University

Crystal Williams
President, Rhode Island School of Design