HBCU’s Canceling Classes Thursday Nationwide Following Threats

At least five historically Black colleges locked down campuses, canceled classes or ordered students to shelter in place after receiving “credible threats” of violence on Thursday. Many of the precautionary measures are no longer in place. Alabama State University, Clark Atlanta College, Hampton University, Southern University and Virginia State University were among those affected. Southern University and Virginia State University have since lifted their lockdowns. Alabama State University has, as well, but is still asking students to shelter in place.

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The schools have not provided details of the threats, but all said they were working with local law enforcement. The FBI said the threats are a “hoax.”

“The FBI is aware of hoax threat calls to a number of Historically Black Colleges and Universities,” the agency said in a statement. “The FBI takes these threats very seriously because it puts innocent people at risk. While we have no information to indicate a credible threat, we will continue to work with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to gather, share, and act upon threat information as it comes to our attention.”

Bethune-Cookman College in Daytona Beach, Florida, also canceled classes as a precaution, although the school says it has not received a direct threat. Out of precaution and because of its proximity to Clark, Spelman College in Atlanta also ordered its staff and students to shelter in place and avoid the neighboring campus across the street. The order has since been lifted.

Source: NBC News