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About RISD Activism

1960-69

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Content warning: violence, racism, language

Campus demonstrations, petition letters and activism posters/artwork directly protest US involvement in the Vietnam War. Zines, posters and newspaper clips discuss the value of Black art in relation to ongoing civil and human rights violations experienced during this era.

Bold text with illustration of child carrying another child on back — Unity in Our Love of Man, Vietnam War protest poster, RISD student, 1970

Red stop sign with "war" added below — Stop War, Vietnam War protest poster, RISD student, 1970

Hitler holding a mask of Nixon — Vietnam War protest poster, RISD student, 1970

Group of student protesters climbing the Statehouse steps — Student antiwar demonstration, Rhode Island State House, 1970 (Providence Journal photo)

newspaper page with headline "Senior in Photography Teaches for her Thesis” at top left of page — “Senior in Photography Teaches for her Thesis,” The Designer’s News, newspaper, May 19–25, 1969, vol. 1 no. 3

newspaper page with small box in left corner with headline “Student Teaches” — “Senior in Photography Teaches for her Thesis” (continued)

Newspaper article — "Hit Them Hard and Low: You May Not Be in this Game Long", John Torres (RISD faculty), 1969

Petition on white page with multiple signatures — Anti-war petition, RISD Museum, 1970

Person in a graveyard installing a cross — RISD Beach gravesite installation, RISD students, 1970

Students setting up artwork on sidewalk — Installation of antiwar mobile artwork petition, 1970 (Providence Journal photo)

First page of a printed letter — Black Student Community of RISD Statement of Belief, 1969

Person adding signature to large artwork protesting US invasion of Southeast Asia — Antiwar mobile artwork petition, 1970 (Providence Journal photo)

typed document titled “White Affirmation of Support for the RISD Black Community” — White Affirmation of Support for the RISD Black Community, document, 1968

typed document written in 1968 stating the support of Black RISD students for peers at Brown University — We the Black Students of Rhode Island School of Design, document, May 16, 1968

a newsprint page with an article headline that reads “Student Group Turns Activist” — “Student Group Turns Activist,” The Designer’s News, newspaper, May 18–25, 1969

newspaper page with story headline "Ecology Action" at top of page — “Ecology Action,” RISD, newspaper, November 1969, vol. 1 no. 4

newspaper page with headline “Torres” running along right side of page — “John Torres—Troublemaker” (continued)

newspaper page with headline “John Torres—Troublemaker” at top of page — “John Torres—Troublemaker,” The Designer’s News, newspaper, May 19–25, 1969, vol. 1 no. 3