Black students across the US were targeted this week by coordinated racist death threats, forcing at least seven historically Black colleges into emergency lockdowns just a day after far-right activist Charlie Kirk was killed at Utah Valley University.
At New York University, Black students reportedly received a threatening manifesto specifically targeting them, according to an email seen by the Guardian from the university’s Black Student Union. The manifesto was said to contain “extremely graphic threats of gun violence” and stated the author was “coming for only n******”, citing the number of Black students as taking away from a “safe space” for white people.
In the email, the NYU Black Student Union criticized university officials for their “lack of transparency”, saying administrators waited more than six hours before informing students that the manifesto specifically targeted Black students. NYU did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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At least seven historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) went on lockdown on Thursday, including Alabama State University, Virginia State University, Hampton University in Virginia, Spelman College, Southern University and A&M College, Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College and Bethune-Cookman University.
Virginia State University’s president, Makola M Abdullah, wrote to the campus community: “Today, Virginia State University – along with several other Historically Black Colleges and Universities – received a threat intended to disrupt, intimidate and instill fear in our community.” The university enacted a temporary campus lockdown before lifting it with restrictions, limiting access to students, faculty and staff with valid identification.
Alabama State University’s president, Quinton T Ross Jr, said his school “received a terroristic threat directed at our campus” and immediately suspended operations “out of an abundance of caution”. The university coordinated with law enforcement while making provisions for students to return to residence halls and access meals.
Hampton University temporarily stopped all non-essential activities and closed all campus activities and classes through Friday, including athletic events. School officials said: “The safety and wellbeing of our students, faculty, staff and visitors remain our highest priority.”
Southern University in Baton Rouge implemented the most extensive lockdown, applying restrictions to the “entire Baton Rouge landmass”, including the university’s law center, agricultural research and extension center, and laboratory school. Campus activities and classes were canceled through the weekend.
The FBI told the Guardian in a statement it was “aware of hoax threat calls” to a number of HBCUs but that there was no information to indicate a credible threat.
“The FBI takes these threats very seriously because it puts innocent people at risk,” the federal law enforcement agency said. “We urge the public to remain vigilant, and report any and all suspicious activity and/or individuals to law enforcement immediately.”
Most of the affected universities have since lifted their lockdowns but maintained enhanced security measures and canceled classes through the weekend as federal and local law enforcement agencies continue their investigations. The threats came amid a federal manhunt for the shooter who killed Kirk during a campus event on Wednesday at Utah Valley University in Utah, though the suspected shooter is now in custody.
HBCUs have previously been targets of violent threats. In 2022, the FBI launched an investigation into similar incidents, and later that year announced that an individual was charged with making dozens of racist threats targeting HBCUs.
Still, the coordinated nature of the threats has spiked concerns about the targeted harassment of Black students and educational institutions.
“These threats are not random. They are targeted attacks on institutions,” Virginia State University president Abdullah said in her statement. “To those who seek to silence or scare us: we will not be intimidated.”
Melissa Hellmann contributed reporting