Condemning Threats of Violence Against Historically Black Colleges and Universities

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. ADAMS. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record statements from UNCF, TMCF, NAFEO, Alabama A&M's President Wims, and the Executive Leadership Council in support of the resolution.

Washington, DC (February 7, 2022).--Over the past month, more than two dozen historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) have received terroristic threats in an apparent attempt to disrupt and, presumably, sow fear in our campus communities. These attempts to intimidate the HBCU community reached a peak on Tuesday, Feb. 1--the first day of Black History Month--when 13 HBCUs were forced to disrupt their normal operations due to coordinated threats posed to their respective campuses.

The United Negro College Fund (UNCF) and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) are pleased that the federal government has characterized its ongoing investigation into these threats as ``threats of terror with the utmost seriousness'' and as acts of domestic terrorism, as announced during a recent briefing by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Given the federal government's characterization of these threats, we anticipate and expect that the Justice Department will fully prosecute the individuals responsible for these heinous acts and we look forward to the swift conclusion of this matter.

Unfortunately, these terrorist acts fall squarely into a recent trend line documented by the Center for Strategic and International Studies that reflects a sharp increase in right-wing extremist attacks and plots in the United States in recent years. HBCUs, as institutions founded for the original purpose of educating and uplifting former enslaved people and their descendants, have been at the forefront of social and economic justice advocacy for more than 180 years. Our universities' missions and their historic legacies naturally put them at odds with the enemies of equality which, even in the 21st century, makes our institutions and their students, staff, faculty and administrators an apparent target for extremism. Notwithstanding these attempts to terrorize our community, our HBCUs remain unbroken and unbowed.

The actions of a misguided few will not deter our institutions from fulfilling their collective mission to educate our nation's next generation of teachers, entrepreneurs and leaders. We are hopeful that congressional, state, community and philanthropic leaders will join with us and offer the support that is needed for us to offer our students the sense of security needed as we move forward with the same sense of resilience we have shown since the founding of the first HBCU in 1837.

Reflecting on these incidents, we are reminded of the words of the late Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, which still are instructive today:

``I wish I could say that racism and prejudice were only distant memories. We must dissent from the indifference. We must dissent from the apathy. We must dissent from indifference. We must dissent from the apathy. We must dissent from the fear, the hatred and the mistrust . . . We must dissent because America can do better, because America has no choice but to do better. Dr. Harry L. Williams,

President & CEO, Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF). Dr. Michael L. Lomax,

President & CEO, United Negro College Fund (UNCF). ____ National Association For Equal Opportunity In Higher Education, Washington, DC, February 5, 2022. RE Bomb Threats on HBCU Campuses, Congressional Resolution Condemning Violence on HBCU Campuses & Related Matters. Hon. Alma Adams (NC-12) Co-Chair, Congressional HBCU Bipartisan Caucus. Hon. Chris Coons, CH-Chair, Congressional HBCU Bipartisan Caucus. Hon. French Hill (AR-02), Co-Chair, Congressional HBCU Bipartisan Caucus. Hon. Tim Scott, CO-Chair, Congressional HBCU Bipartisan Caucus.

Dear Congressional Bipartisan HBCU Caucus Co-Chairs Adams, Hill, Coons and Scott: I am writing in my capacity as President & CEO of the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO), which, as you know, is the nation's only 501 (c) (3) membership and advocacy association for all HBCUs and PBIs. I am joined by Attorney John Pierre, Chancellor of the Southern University Law Center, and Chair of the NAFEO Presidential Policy, Advocacy & Legal Advisory Board. We are writing to express our profound gratitude for your leadership of the Congressional Bipartisan HBCU Caucus, which, along with support from other congressional leaders, members of the Congressional Black Caucus, bipartisan support from other Members of Congress, and leadership from the Administration, yielded more than $5.8 billion for HBCUs, their students, families, faculty, staff, infrastructure, and service communities. This represents a greater federal investment in HBCUs than any time in the Nation's history. It was a substantial down- payment on closing the gulf between public and private investments in HBCUs as compared with their historically White college and university counterparts, relative to their missions and student outcomes.

We are writing at this time to let you that our members are poised to do whatever is required to assist you and your colleagues in moving the Nation closer toward closing the HBCU/HWCU funding gap and building a stronger, peaceful, equitable, just America.

We are concerned that the recent bomb threats on HBCU campuses, must be taken seriously. Consideration must be given to Congress requesting that Homeland Security, the FBI, Department of Justice, and the Department of Education, repurpose some of their existing funds to provide HBCUs additional resources, immediately, with which to provide the training and infrastructure they need to ensure the safety of their campus community, and their service communities. Additionally, where, as in the case of Homeland Security, a federal department or agency is poised to make grant funds available in the spring, that could be used to better prepare the campuses for any possible assault with a clear plan, based on the most promising practices, while moving everyone on the campuses and in their service communities out of harm's way, consideration should be given to making the funds available now.

We believe we must act immediately on the assumption that the perpetrators may make good on some of the threats because: (1) The perpetrators of the bomb threats have not been publicly identified; (2) The institutional targets are moving; (3) The threats are coming: (a) amid heightened incendiary racist rhetoric, and unabated race-based assaults; (b) amid increased state actions to suppress the Black & Hispanic vote; (c) amid efforts to trammel the First Amendment rights of professors who want to include in curricula a comprehensive examination of America's past and present, including discussions about Blacks in America; (d) as polls show that many disaffected Whites believe their plight is due to Blacks in America gaining ``too much,'' although the December jobs reports demonstrate that the unemployment rate for White people dropped (3.2 percent), Asian Americans (3.8 percent), and Latino/Hispanic people (4.9 percent), while the unemployment rate for Blacks increased from 6.5 percent to 7.1 percent, demonstrating the entrenched, intractable and growing racial employment gap, especially for Black women;

In spite of their perception, the Black-White gaps in education, employment, salaries, wealth, health, sustainability, and justice persist. (e) The bomb threats on HBCU campuses coincide with reports documenting the billions of dollars that HBCUs have been denied to which they are entitled, highlighting the tremendous disparities between funds for the historically White land-grant institutions (1862s) and the historically Black land-grant institutions (1890s), and the failure of many states to provide the congressionally mandated one-to-one match funding for 1890 land-grant universities; (f) The bomb threats on HBCU campuses are occurring as reports indicate the January 6th Congressional Commission is unearthing information that may result in exposure of the masterminds.

The HBCU Community thanks you for your leadership in calling for a Congressional Resolution condemning the bomb threats against HBCUs and denouncing violence, supporting peace, tolerance, and ecumenism. The HBCUs have a rich and cherished history of leading in teaching about civility, combatting violence by highlighting the oneness of humankind, respect for our pluralism, and teaching the imperatives of love, mercy, justice, and for a peaceful coexistence in our pluralistic nation. We stand ready to engage our members in educating their Members about the importance of your resolution especially during such times as these. With thanksgiving, Lezli Baskerville, President & CEO. John Pierre, Chancellor, Southern University Law Center Chair, NAFEO Presidential Policy Advocacy & Legal Advisory Board. ____ Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University, Normal, AL, February 7, 2022. Hon. Alma Adams, House of Representatives, Washington, DC.

Dear Congresswoman Adams: Approximately around 2:30 a.m. on Monday, January 31, 2022, law enforcement officials at historic Alabama A&M University received notice that the campus was the target of a bomb threat and indicating the quadrants that would be impacted by the device. Thanks to the immediate actions of our campus police and its continuing partnership with the Huntsville Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the University received an ``all clear'' to resume operations prior to the start of the business day.

While this designation was a relief, the chronicled and persistent threats on all fronts to historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) must be taken seriously. While representing a small percentage of America's vast higher learning system, HBCUs' role over more than a century has been nothing short of phenomenal. Thus, we wholeheartedly support the resolution led by you and Congressman French Hill outright condemning these persistent acts of domestic terrorism. Our HBCUs have proven their merit by making the American Dream accessible to thousands. We must do everything in our power to ensure their continued existence.

Thank you for your ongoing leadership and work in Congress and for your and your colleagues' adamant stand for one of our nation's greatest resources, our HBCUs. Sincerely, Daniel K. Wims, Ph.D., President. ____

The Executive Leadership Council's Statement in Response to Recent Threats of Racial Violence at HBCUs Across the Nation

Washington, DC (February 8, 2022)--The right to an education is one of our nation's greatest freedoms. George Washington Carver, renowned scientist, and professor at Tuskegee Institute (now Tuskegee University) once said, ``Education is the key to unlock the golden door of freedom to our people.''

Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are some of the nation's most enduring symbols of what can be achieved when a people are determined to prosper. For decades, HBCU's have faced threats of racial violence. These threats are violent attempts to keep Black people from receiving educations that ultimately unlock economic opportunity in America.

The Executive Leadership Council (ELC) issued the following statement in response to the recent bomb threats targeted at HBCUs across the country.

Please see our statement, below:

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are essential to the American story.

Since their inception, HBCUs have educated and trained America's most brilliant Black scholars, doctors, lawyers, and a myriad of other professionals--from the first Black Supreme Court Justice of the United States Thurgood Marshall to Kamala Harris, the first woman elected Vice President of the United States. HBCUs have made a tremendous impact on American progress.

However, despite their rich history, HBCUs are historically underfunded and often subject to threats of racial violence. The recent bomb threats at HBCU's nationwide are particularly disturbing. Our students deserve to feel safe on campus.

We applaud the administration's swift response but recognize that distractions like this only deepen the chasm between HBCU students and their counterparts at universities that do not face continuous instructional disruptions. These threats are as material as they are symbolic and we, the members of The Executive Leadership Council (ELC), take them very seriously.

The ELC is the preeminent global membership organization for Black current and former CEOs, senior executives. and board members of Fortune 1000 and equivalent companies. We advocate for advancing Black leadership by increasing the number of Black corporate CEOs, C-Suite executives, and board members, as well as building a pipeline for the next generation of Black corporate leaders. HBCU graduates account for a significant number of the Black talent pipeline for the public and private sectors--HBCU students are the nation's workforce of the future.

If our nation seeks to continue cultivating diverse talent and reaping the proven results of inclusive leadership--it is imperative that we prioritize investing in these historic institutions and the overall safety of their students. We hope Congress and the Biden-Harris Administration will continue to support thoughtful legislation that serves to protect these institutions and will work to pass the HBCU Ignite for Excellence Act, which provides needed federal investment for these institutions that mean so much to America and her continued success.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. ADAMS. I thank Chairman Scott for his courageous leadership and support of our schools.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my resolution (H. Con. Res. 70), which condemns the recent despicable, cowardly bomb threats to more than 30 historically Black colleges and universities. These were hate crimes, acts of terror.

As a proud two-time HBCU alumna of North Carolina A&T State University, a retired professor of 40 years at Bennett College in Greensboro, and now a representative of Johnson C. Smith University in my district, I know HBCUs can overcome any challenge, but those challenges should not include terrorism or racism.

The congressional response from my colleagues to these threats has been robust. We came together to call for swift action from Federal law enforcement.

The threats were quickly addressed by members of Federal, State, and local law enforcement. Thanks to the Department of Justice and its agencies for working swiftly in this regard.

My thanks as well to Chairman Scott, whose leadership has resulted in more than $6.5 billion in funding to HBCUs, more funding than the last 10 years combined.

Our HBCUs, their faculty, their staff, and especially their students are strong. They are resilient. They are brilliant paragons of academic excellence. But they shouldn't have to respond to threats and secure their campuses on shoestring budgets.

While today's resolution rightly condemns these cowardly acts of violence against our hallowed institutions, Congress must continue to respond with action and legislation.

Finally, I want to address the perpetrators of these crimes. I am praying that the hate that inspired these acts leaves your heart forever, that you take a moment and imagine yourself in different circumstances.

Imagine growing up on the ghetto streets of Newark, New Jersey, your mom cleaning houses to make ends meet. You save every penny to go to college because the most important people in your life have taught you the value of education.

You make it to an HBCU, becoming the first member of your family to go to college. It is a big responsibility. Because HBCUs are special places, especially for Black Americans, they invest in you. They lift you up. They help you succeed in ways you never thought possible. They take you from cleaning houses with your mom to serving in the U.S. House.

Similar experiences are shared by millions, and that is what you attacked when you threatened our HBCUs. That is what you deemed worthy of hate and violence. And that is why Congress must condemn these actions.

Mr. Speaker, I move that we pass this resolution, and I ask all of my colleagues to support it.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source