More HBCUs receive bomb threats as Black History Month begins

A person speaks with a police officer in a patrol automobile exterior the Spelman campus Tuesday morning, Feb. 1, 2022, after two traditionally Black faculties in Georgia acquired bomb threats, a disturbing development that many HBCUs throughout the nation have confronted in latest weeks.

John Spink, Atlanta Journal-Structure by way of Related Press

A number of traditionally Black faculties and universities have acquired bomb threats on the opening days of Black Historical past Month.

The information: Near 14 HBCU’s acquired bomb threats have been reported on Tuesday. The faculties that acquired threats embody:

• Kentucky State College in Frankfort.
• Xavier College of Louisiana in New Orleans.
• Edward Waters College in Jacksonville, Florida.
• Fort Valley State College in Georgia.
• Spelman Faculty in Atlanta.
• Coppin State College in Baltimore.
• Alcorn State College in Lorman, Mississippi.
• Mississippi Valley State College in Itta Bena, Mississippi.
• The College of the District of Columbia.
• Philander Smith Faculty in Little Rock, Arkansas.
• Jackson State College in Mississippi.
• Howard College in Washington, D.C., acquired a bomb menace on Monday.

What they’re saying: “We’ve had these challenges earlier than,” Howard College President Wayne Frederick mentioned Tuesday, in line with CNN.

• However “since I’ve been right here (as a pupil) in 1988, it has not been this widespread and in addition, I believe, this overt.”

U.S. Schooling Secretary Miguel Cardona mentioned the threats are “disturbing.”

• “My staff will proceed to work with college students, school, and alumni to ensure HBCUs proceed to be a secure place for college students to study,” Cardona mentioned in a tweet Tuesday.

What’s subsequent: Home Homeland Safety Chairman Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., mentioned in a press release that the FBI will apprehend those that are “accountable for this violent menace.”

• “The FBI is conscious of the sequence of bomb threats across the nation and we're working with our legislation enforcement companions to deal with any potential threats,” the FBI mentioned in a press release, per USA As we speak. “As at all times, we want to remind members of the general public that in the event that they observe something suspicious to report it to legislation enforcement instantly.”

Flashback: In January, no less than eight traditionally Black faculties and universities acquired bomb threats a few week earlier than Martin Luther King Jr. Day, as I reported for the Deseret Information.

• The College of Utah police division mentioned it acquired a bomb menace at its Black Cultural Middle, too.

The underside line: “It's scary, it's horrifying, it's horrible that these college students, these school, these establishments are feeling underneath menace,” White Home press secretary Jen Psaki mentioned Tuesday.