The Congressional Black Caucus is calling for a federal investigation into the series of threats made against HBCUs across the nation on Thursday (September 11).
“The threats made against several Historically Black Colleges and Universities are not only vile — they are a chilling reminder of the relentless racism and extremism that continues to target and terrorize Black communities in this country,” Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.), chair of the caucus, said in a statement, per Politico.
At least six HBCUs, including Alabama State University, Hampton University, and Virginia State University, received threats, prompting campus lockdowns, class cancellations, and shelter-in-place orders. Hampton University canceled classes through Friday (September 12), noting that the safety of students, faculty, and visitors is its “highest priority.”
Even HBCUs that weren’t directly targeted, including Howard University in Washington, D.C. and Spelman University in Georgia, took precautionary measures by locking down campuses.
The FBI labeled the threats as “hoaxes” but said it is taking them seriously.
“While we have no information to indicate a credible threat, we will continue to work with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners,” an FBI spokesperson said in a statement.
The threats came one day after conservative figure Charlie Kirk was shot dead at Utah Valley University. A separate shooting at a Colorado high school on Wednesday (September 10) left two students injured and a teen gunman dead.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) called the HBCU threats “despicable.” The CBC is urging the Department of Justice and the FBI to launch a probe into the threats.
“These terroristic threats, designed to intimidate and foment hatred against everyday Americans — in this case, Black institutions of higher learning — cannot go unchallenged and must not be swept aside,” Clarke said. “Black students and HBCU communities deserve to be protected.”
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