Providence Police have arrested two people for vandalism and antisemitic messages on the Textron Building in Downtown Providence.
The two arrested are students at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD).
The building was defaced on two consecutive days. Other buildings have also been hit with antisemitic messages and anti-Israel postings.
RISD students Maggie Weng and Finch Bryant, both aged 19, were arrested on Wednesday by Providence Police and held overnight for allegedly spray painting “Kills Kids” on the Textron building.
Textron is a supplier of military equipment to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
The Providence Police community response team and intelligence units tracked Weng and Bryant to their dorm rooms following a day-long investigation.
According to Providence Police Major David Lapatin, both suspects now face multiple charges.
And, according to Lapatin, whether or not Weng and Bryan will be charged with hate crimes would have to be determined by the Rhode Island Attorney General’s office.
In the past few days in Providence, there have been antisemitic messages and protest messages posted in multiple locations across Providence.