"Driving the news: At least seven HBCUs went on lockdown on Thursday, including Alabama State University, Virginia State University, Hampton University, Spelman College, Southern University and A&M College, Clark Atlanta University, Bethune-Cookman. Some of the schools, including Spelman, Southern, Clark Atlanta and VSU have since lifted their shelter-in-place orders after no threats were found. It is not immediately clear if the threats are connected or racially motivated."
"What they're saying: "The Department of Justice and FBI must thoroughly investigate any potential act of domestic terrorism, and not turn a blind eye when Black college students are apparently being viciously targeted," House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said in a statement. Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) wrote on X on Thursday that her "heart aches for the constant trauma that students consistently experience simply because some lack the courage to do better." "HBCU campuses have been safehavens since their creation," Crockett wrote. "I'm not sure why or how they have become a target today, but it is not ok." Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) posted on X that the threats should "be fully investigated by law enforcement - including the FBI.""
"Zoom in: "The FBI is aware of hoax threat calls to a number of Historically Black Colleges and Universities," an FBI spokesperson told Axios in an emailed statement. The spokesperson said they currently have "no information to indicate a credible threat," but will continue to work with their local law enforcement partners as threats emerge. Zoom out: At least a dozen universities faced swatting incidents, or fake emergency calls, in mid-August as classes returned for the school year. An online group named Purgatory took credit for that slew of campus lockdowns, including at Villanova, UT-Chattanooga and CU Boulder. By the numbers: There are 99 HBCUs in America, ac"
At least seven Historically Black Colleges and Universities went on lockdown following reported threat calls, including Alabama State, Virginia State, Hampton, Spelman, Southern, Clark Atlanta and Bethune-Cookman. Several campuses lifted shelter-in-place orders after no threats were found. Authorities have not determined whether the threats are connected or racially motivated. Congressional leaders called for thorough investigations by the Department of Justice and the FBI and expressed concern about the trauma inflicted on students. The FBI reported awareness of hoax threat calls and said it has no information indicating a credible threat while continuing coordination with local law enforcement. Similar swatting incidents affected about a dozen universities in mid-August.
Read at Axios
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]