As Black History Month begins Tuesday, the threats are real
As Black History Month starts, more than a dozen historically Black universities were threatened with bombs.
“Our history is one of hardships and disruptions but we have always come out stronger,” stated David Wilson, president, Morgan State University in Baltimore , according to USA Today.
Schools that received bomb threats as of Wednesday include: Coppin State University, Alcorn State University, Mississippi Valley State University, Morgan State University, Jackson State University, Tougaloo College, Kentucky State University, Fort Valley State University, Howard University, Spelman College, Xavier University, University of the District of Columbia, Edward Waters University, Rust College.
There are 107 HBCUs in the country.
Mary Schmidt Campbell, president and CEO of Spelman College, in Atlanta, stated in an email Tuesday to students and employees, “The threats were despicable.” They are made to make us fearful and vulnerable.
All threats started this week, including one against Howard University on Monday before Black History Month officially began. This was Howard’s third bomb threat this year.
In response to threats, campuses throughout the county were placed on lockdown or cancelled classes. Many schools also issued “all clear” messages to their communities by Tuesday afternoon.
The FBI released a statement Tuesday saying that it was aware of bomb threats in the country and is working with law enforcement partners to combat any such threats. “As usual, we remind the public to report any suspicious activity to law enforcement immediately.
Students and parents are worried about their wellbeing, as they feel “targeted” by the onslaught.
“It doesn’t seem like a prank and me along with other peers feel targeted,” AnieyaGreen, a 19 year old student at Xavier University, , told the New York Times .
It feels like an attack. It feels like someone has entered and trespassed on a very sacred place,” Dana Perry, a parent of HBCU, told Fox 13.
Jen Psaki, White House Press Secretary, addressed the threats Tuesday and called them “disturbing.”
She said, “It’s scary, it’s horrifying, it’s terrible that these students and these faculty feel under threat.”
Psaki stated that the administration wanted students and college leaders to know that they were standing by them in the face of these threats.
