On Thursday, several historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) were placed on lockdown due to potential threats. Institutions affected include Alabama State University, Virginia State University, Hampton University in Virginia, Southern University in Louisiana, and Clark Atlanta University in Georgia. Additionally, Spelman College, located near Clark Atlanta University, has taken precautionary measures by implementing shelter-in-place protocols.
According to the official website, Hampton University has suspended all nonessential activities, including athletic events, for the remainder of Thursday and all of Friday. The decision was made to ensure the safety of students and staff amidst the ongoing investigation into the threats. Meanwhile, Virginia State University communicated via their Facebook page that the campus remains on lockdown out of an abundance of caution.
Southern University in Louisiana has also confirmed its lockdown status through a post on X, stating that the lockdown applies to the entire Baton Rouge campus, including its Law Center. The university is advising its community to shelter in place until further notice.
In Daytona Beach, Florida, Bethune-Cookman University is also on lockdown due to a potential threat to campus safety. School officials shared this update on their Instagram account, highlighting the seriousness of the situation.
ABC News has obtained an email sent to the Virginia State University community, urging students, faculty, and staff to remain indoors while campus police, along with local, state, and federal law enforcement, assess the credibility of the threats received. The email confirmed that no injuries have been reported and that outdoor movement is restricted to essential activities only. Classes and extracurricular activities have been canceled for the afternoon, and additional security personnel have been deployed across VSU locations.
The lockdown measures come in the wake of a tragic incident at Utah Valley University, where 31-year-old conservative commentator Charlie Kirk was killed during a speaking engagement. In light of this violence, civil rights activist Rev. Al Sharpton released a statement condemning the threats made against HBCUs. He denounced the shooting of Donald Trump last year, Kirk’s murder, and the threats to HBCUs, emphasizing the need for increased security measures amidst heightened tensions.
Rev. Sharpton noted the concerning trend of threats against HBCUs, referencing attacks earlier in 2023 at Edward Waters University and a shooting incident at Tuskegee University. While officials have not connected these recent threats to the shooting at Utah Valley University, the situation remains under investigation. Both Hampton and Alabama State officials confirmed to ABC News that they had not experienced any physical incidents affecting students and faculty.
As the investigation continues, school officials are urging their communities to remain vigilant. They encourage everyone to report any suspicious activity, reinforcing the message that if you see something, say something.
The recent threats follow a troubling pattern; in 2022, numerous HBCUs received anonymous bomb threats that prompted shelter-in-place orders or evacuations. Fortunately, no real bombs were discovered after those incidents. The FBI, at that time, identified a juvenile believed to be responsible for many racially motivated threats against these institutions.
