If you thought racism was a relic of America’s past, look no further than a series of bomb threats levied against more than a dozen Historically Black Colleges and Universities this week — proving that racism is alive and thriving.
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On Monday and Tuesday, Howard University in Washington, D.C., Morgan State University in Baltimore, Spelman College in Atlanta, Kentucky State University in Frankfort, Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans, Edward Waters University in Jacksonville, and Fort Valley State University in Fort Valley, Georgia were specifically targeted with simultaneous bomb threats.
Additionally, the University of the District of Columbia, Delaware State, Coppin State, Bowie State, Albany State, Bethune-Cookman University, Jackson State, Rust College, Alcorn State, Mississippi Valley State, Tougaloo College, Jackson State, and the Southern University A&M College all went on high alert lockdown and postponed all classes.
The mode of operation was the same across the board. Each of the colleges and universities received an early morning telephone call alerting them that a bomb had been placed on campus, forcing them to take immediate emergency precautions.
The bomb threats understandably rattled students and their families.
“I’m uneasy,” said Jackson State junior Calvert White. “HBCUs have a long history of physical threats just because of our existence. I think that the threats aren’t individual or coincidental — that it’s a clear attack on Black students who choose to go to Black schools.”
“I’m very nervous, concerned,” Cristal Brown, whose 23-year-old son is a student at MVSU, said after hearing about the threat. “Maybe it’s some sort of sick joke that someone or a group of individuals may find amusing.
“Of course, I am concerned about more threats. It’s heartbreaking learning that several other HBCU’s have been targeted,” she continued. “I really do hope they find the person(s) responsible and hold them accountable for their actions,” Brown concluded.
Although local law enforcement officials in each of the cities were immediately on the scene, the FBI has since taken the lead in the investigation.
“The FBI is aware of the series of bomb threats around the country and we are working with our law enforcement partners to address any potential threats,” the agency said via a statement. “As always, we would like to remind members of the public that if they observe anything suspicious to report it to law enforcement immediately.”
White House press secretary Jen Psaki called the bomb threats “disturbing” and said homeland security officials are providing regular updates to President Biden to assess the origin of the threats and the motivation behind them.
“It is scary, it is horrifying, it is terrible that these students, these faculty, these institutions are feeling under threat,” Psaki said. She added that the administration wants students and the leaders of the colleges to know “that we are standing with them as they face these threats.”
US Education Secretary Miguel Cardona called the threats “disturbing” and said they would not be tolerated.
“My team will continue to work with students, faculty, and alumni to make sure HBCUs continue to be a safe place for students to learn,” Cardona said Tuesday.
Reps. Alma Adams of North Carolina and French Hill of Arkansas, co-chairs of the Congressional Bipartisan HBCU Caucus, said in a statement they were “deeply disturbed” by the threats.
“Learning is one of the most noble and most human pursuits, and schools are sacred places that should always be free from terror. Solving these crimes and bringing those responsible to justice should be a top priority for federal law enforcement,” the co-chairs said.
“We’ve had these challenges before,” Howard University President Wayne Frederick said Tuesday. But “since I’ve been here (as a student) in 1988, it has not been this widespread and also, I think, this overt.”
So, why would more than a dozen historically black colleges and universities be targeted at the same time with a series of bomb threats? Was it a prank? Was it to instill fear among African-Americans at the start of Black History Month? Or, were the threats credible but not executed for some reason?
The FBI doesn’t know the answers for sure, but they have pledged to continue to take every precaution to protect African-American college students and all students at America’s institutions of higher learning.
FBI Investigating 6 Juveniles in Connection with Wave of Bomb Threats Against Historically Black Colleges
[ The FBI has identified six juveniles as persons of interest in a nationwide series of bomb threats to historically Black colleges, universities and houses of worship, NBC News, the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times reported.
A law enforcement official said the six juveniles from around the country were considered “tech savvy,” NBC reports.
The juveniles are believed to have made the calls using a disguised phone number, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing officials.
The FBI declined to comment about the persons of interest to PEOPLE.
In a Feb. 2 statement, the FBI said the threats were being “investigated as racially or ethnically motivated violent extremism and hate crimes.” ] – People Magazine, Feb. 3, 2022