Several historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are on lockdown after receiving potential threats on Thursday, with institutions including Alabama State University, Virginia State University, Hampton University in Virginia, Southern University in Louisiana, and Clark Atlanta University in Georgia being affected.
In response to the situation, Spelman College, located near Clark Atlanta University, has also implemented shelter-in-place protocols as a precaution.
The FBI issued a statement confirming that they are aware of hoax threat calls targeting multiple HBCUs and emphasized the seriousness of these threats, noting that they put innocent people at risk.
At this time, there is no information suggesting the existence of a credible threat.
Hampton University announced on its website that it had ceased all nonessential activities, including athletic events, for the remainder of Thursday and Friday.
Virginia State University took to Facebook to advise its community that, out of an abundance of caution, the school remains on lockdown.
Southern University in Louisiana posted on X to confirm its lockdown status, which encompasses the entire Baton Rouge campus, including its Law Center.
The institution encouraged the community to shelter in place until further notice.
After the lockdown was lifted later on Thursday, Southern University also announced the cancellation of all campus activities and classes for Thursday, Friday, and the weekend.
The Congressional Black Caucus issued a statement condemning the threats against the HBCUs, labeling them as vile and representative of the persistent racism and extremism that threaten Black communities nationwide.
The caucus called for a swift investigation by the FBI and the Department of Justice to ensure that those responsible face appropriate legal action.
Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, Florida, also entered lockdown due to a separate potential threat to campus safety, as communicated by school officials on Instagram.
ABC News obtained an email from the Virginia State University community, which reiterated that students, faculty, and staff should remain locked down while local, state, and federal law enforcement investigate the credibility of the threats.
The email specified that no injuries had been reported, outdoor movement was restricted to essential activities, and classes and extracurricular activities were canceled for the afternoon, with increased security personnel monitoring the campus.
This recent spate of lockdowns occurred just a day after a shooting at Utah Valley University that resulted in the death of 31-year-old conservative commentator Charlie Kirk during a speaking engagement.
In light of the heightened tensions following Kirk’s death, civil rights activist Rev. Al Sharpton issued a statement calling for an end to violence and threats directed at HBCUs.
Sharpton condemned the shooting of Donald Trump last year, the murder of Charlie Kirk yesterday, and the threats to HBCUs today.
He also announced plans to bolster his security detail in response to increased threats, referencing prior attacks on HBCUs, including those at Edward Waters University and a shooting at Tuskegee University.
Officials have clarified that there is no direct link between the threats to HBCUs and the recent shooting at Utah Valley University, with a spokesperson for Virginia State indicating that the threat they received did not reference Charlie Kirk.
School officials at Hampton and Alabama State confirmed that no physical incidents had occurred involving students or faculty.
Details regarding the nature of the threats against the schools remain unclear at this time.
All institutions emphasized the importance of vigilance within their communities, urging everyone to alert authorities to any suspicious activity they may encounter.
These threats follow a troubling pattern; multiple HBCUs received anonymous bomb threats in 2022, prompting shelter-in-place orders or evacuations.
Ultimately, no real bombs were discovered after those incidents, and at that time, the FBI identified a juvenile suspect believed to be responsible for a significant portion of the racially motivated threats against HBCUs.
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