As HBCUs Continue to Face Violent Threats, Senators Reverend Warnock, Wicker Make Bipartisan Call for FBI and DOJ to Prioritize Investigations, Provide Updates

Press Release

Today, U.S. Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Roger Wicker (R-MS) are working together to combat ongoing threats to the nation's Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Following the latest threats to HBCUs on the first day of Black History Month, Senators Reverend Warnock and Wicker sent a new letter to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Department of Justice (DOJ) pressing the law enforcement agencies to prioritize their investigations into these threats and update HBCUs on their findings.

In their letter, the Senators also highlighted how these threats coincide with the beginning of Black History Month and cause significant distress and terror for students, staff, and surrounding communities.

"Over the last month, we have witnessed an alarming pattern of bomb threats issued against HBCUs," wrote the Senators in a letter to the FBI and DOJ. "On January 5, 2022, at least eight HBCUs across the country received bomb threats, including Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia. Within a month of the first round of threats, on January 31, at least six other HBCUs received bomb threats. One day later, at the start of Black History Month, reports suggested that over a dozen HBCUs had received threats. In Mississippi, five HBCUs reported these threats, including Mississippi Valley State University, Alcorn State University, Jackson State University, Tougaloo College, and Rust College. In Georgia, three HBCUs have been targeted: Fort Valley State University, Spelman College, and Albany State University."

They continued, "While no bombs have been found at these institutions thus far, the threats have caused significant disruption and distress for students, faculty, and staff. That some of these threats have coincided with the start of Black History Month only adds to the terror at these universities and surrounding campuses."

More than two dozen HBCUs across the country have received violent threats this year alone. On the first day of Black History Month, at least 14 HBCUs reported threats. Both Senators have been attentive to the ongoing situations and are working with federal agencies to bring the perpetrators to justice while ensuring HBCU's future safety on campus and beyond.

In Georgia, Spelman College, Fort Valley State University, Morehouse College, Albany State University are among the threatened institutions while in Mississippi, Mississippi Valley State University, Alcorn State University, Jackson State University, Tougaloo College, and Rust College have also received threats.

Senator Warnock commented on the threats earlier this week saying in part, "It is painful to see, particularly on the first day of Black History Month, our Historically Black College and University students being terrorized by threats of violence. I will not stop until these hateful threats are fully investigated and Georgians at our HBCUs feel safe."

Source