At least a dozen historically black colleges and universities receive bomb threats

On the first day of Black History Month, more than a dozen historically black colleges and universities received bomb threats on Tuesday.

Howard University was one of the first institutions to issue a shelter-in-place order in the early morning hours, just the day following the school and multiple other HBCUs receiving similar threats. 

“A bomb threat against the university is being investigated,” said an alert from Howard University as reported by NBC Washington. “All persons on campus are advised to shelter in place until more information is available.”

The alert was noted at 3:29 a.m on Tuesday, which was also the first day of Black History Month. Howard University later issued an all-clear notice after an investigation. 

According to school officials and social media posts, the following schools other than Howard reported having bomb threats: The University of the District of Columbia in Washington, D.C., Tougaloo College in Tougaloo, Mississippi, Morgan State University and Coppin State University in Baltimore, Maryland, Jackson State University in Jackson, Mississippi, Fort Valley State University in Fort Valley, Georgia, Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia, Kentucky State University in Frankfort, Kentucky, Rust College in Holly Springs, Mississippi, Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans, Mississippi Valley State University in Itta Bena, Mississippi, Edward Waters University in Jacksonville, Florida, and Alcorn State University in Lorman, Mississippi. 

The president of Morgan State University, David K. Wilson, said in a statement that he was saddened to confirm that the school was among those that received a threat.

“Unfortunately, and sadly, it is,” he said responding to people asking whether the threat was real. “The campus is being searched building-by-building this morning with our residential halls being searched first. Wilson noted that nothing had been discovered as of 9 a.m.

“My message to you this morning is to stay strong, remain resilient, and continue to prepare yourselves to grow the future and lead the world because our nation and world desperately need more leaders steeped in the values we teach here at Morgan,” he added. “Those values are Leadership, Integrity, Innovation, Diversity, Excellence and Respect. Hate is not one of them!”