More than a dozen Historically Black Colleges and Universities across the U.S. were forced to lock down and postpone classes on Tuesday, the first day Black History Month. They had received bomb threats.
According to CNN, at least 13 HBCU campuses reported receiving bomb threatsIn total. In most if not all cases, the lockdowns or stay-in-place orders have since been lifted — but the threats on Tuesday came after several weeks of similar threats against HBCUs across the country.
At 4:45 AM, a bomb threat was made to Jackson State University in Mississippi. After a thorough investigation of the campus revealed that the threat was not credible, university officials gave the all clear.
Kentucky State University in Frankfort, Kentucky was also put under lockdown due to a bomb threat. Later, the university announced an all-clear statusFor more information about the campus.
Students claim that the constant barrages of bomb threats on Tuesdays and in the weeks before have taken a toll.
“I do not feel safe attending in-person classes,” one student from Howard University said. “The handling of this situation is unsettling and does not create a safe environment for students or staff.”
Numerous prominent Black figures have spoken out against the threats to social media.
“These institutions serve as safe havens for some of the most brilliant Black minds to grow & they should not be subjected to this violence,” said Martin Luther King III in a tweet on MondayResponding to bomb threats received before the beginning this month.
“I’m praying for all the HBCU students and staff impacted by the bomb threats across the country,” wrote activist and congressional candidate Nina Turner. “We must nurture and protect the safe spaces where we celebrate Black excellence and joy.”
Officials and faculty at universities also condemned the bomb threats.
“If the intent of these threats was to deny access to higher ed, it will fail,” wrote Jay Perman, chancellor of University System of Maryland. “If it was to sow division, it will fail. If it was to terrorize students & communities of color, it will fail.”
Others acknowledged that the 13 threats made on HBCUs in a single day were deeply troubling.
“Not exactly how you want #Blackhistorymonth2022 to begin,” said Dr. Jason JohnsonMorgan State University journalism professor.
