Morgan State University in Baltimore, MD
By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
More than a dozen historically Black colleges and universities received bomb threats on Tuesday, February 1. The threats, the second such in two days, arrived on the first day of Black History Month.
In the past two weeks, more than 20 HBCU’s received telephone bomb threats. Some HBCU’s received repeat threats.
Howard University in Washington, D.C., again found itself the target of such ominous threats.
The school issued a shelter-in-place order on Tuesday.
“A bomb threat against the university is being investigated,” read a 3:29 a.m. alert from Howard University. “All persons on campus are advised to shelter in place until more information is available. ”The school later issued an all-clear.
The University of the District of Columbia, Morgan State University and Coppin State University in Baltimore, Fort Valley State University in Fort Valley, Georgia, Kentucky State University in Frankfort, Kentucky, Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans, Edward Waters University in Jacksonville, Florida, Alcorn State University in Lorman, Mississippi, Mississippi Valley State University in Itta Bena, Mississippi, Spelman College in Atlanta, Jackson State University in Jackson, Mississippi, and Tougaloo College in Tougaloo, Mississippi, all reported bomb threats.
In a statement, Morgan State University President David K. Wilson said he was saddened to confirm that the school had received a bomb threat. He said several individuals had asked about the veracity of the threat. “Unfortunately, and sadly, it is,” he said. “The campus is being searched building-by-building this morning with our residential halls being searched first.”
HBCU Presidents also referred these threats to the FBI and the U. S. Justice Department for a major investigation to determine if the threats are related and part of a larger criminal conspiracy against Black educational and community organizations.