{"id":164472,"date":"2025-09-15T09:57:06","date_gmt":"2025-09-15T09:57:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/black-students-and-colleges-across-us-targeted-with-racist-threats-day-after-charlie-kirk-killing-the-guardian\/"},"modified":"2025-09-15T09:57:06","modified_gmt":"2025-09-15T09:57:06","slug":"black-students-and-colleges-across-us-targeted-with-racist-threats-day-after-charlie-kirk-killing-the-guardian","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/black-students-and-colleges-across-us-targeted-with-racist-threats-day-after-charlie-kirk-killing-the-guardian\/","title":{"rendered":"Black students and colleges across US targeted with racist threats day after Charlie Kirk killing – The Guardian"},"content":{"rendered":"

FBI said threats were \u2018hoax calls\u2019, although universities took measures to prevent incidents on campuses
Full report: Utah governor confirms arrest of suspect<\/a>
A video, a pastor and a tense meeting: timeline of arrest<\/a>
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 the far-right activist Charlie Kirk was killed<\/a> at Utah Valley University.
At New York<\/a> University, Black students reportedly received a threatening manifesto specifically targeting them, according to an email seen by the Guardian from the university\u2019s Black Student Union. The manifesto was said to contain \u201cextremely graphic threats of gun violence\u201d and stated the author was \u201ccoming for only n******\u201d, citing the number of Black students as taking away from a \u201csafe space\u201d for white people.
In the email, the NYU Black Student Union criticized university<\/a> officials for their \u201clack of transparency\u201d, saying administrators waited more than six hours before informing students<\/a> that the manifesto specifically targeted Black students. NYU did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
At least seven historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) went on lockdown on Thursday, including Alabama State University, Virginia<\/a> 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\u2019s president, Makola M Abdullah, wrote<\/a> to the campus community: \u201cToday, Virginia State University \u2013 along with several other Historically Black Colleges and Universities \u2013 received a threat intended to disrupt, intimidate and instill fear in our community.\u201d 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\u2019s president, Quinton T Ross Jr, said his school \u201creceived a terroristic threat directed at our campus\u201d and immediately suspended operations<\/a> \u201cout of an abundance of caution\u201d. The university coordinated with law enforcement while making provisions for students to return to residence halls and access meals.
Hampton University temporarily stopped<\/a> all non-essential activities and closed all campus activities and classes through Friday, including athletic events. School officials said: \u201cThe safety and wellbeing of our students, faculty, staff and visitors remain our highest priority.\u201d
Southern University in Baton Rouge implemented the most extensive lockdown<\/a>, applying restrictions to the \u201centire Baton Rouge landmass\u201d, including the university\u2019s 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 \u201caware of hoax threat calls\u201d to a number of HBCUs but that there was no information to indicate a credible threat.
\u201cThe FBI takes these threats very seriously because it puts innocent people at risk,\u201d the federal law enforcement agency said. \u201cWe urge the public to remain vigilant, and report any and all suspicious activity and\/or individuals to law enforcement immediately.\u201d
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.
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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.
\u201cThese threats are not random. They are targeted attacks on institutions,\u201d Virginia State University president Abdullah said in her statement. \u201cTo those who seek to silence or scare us: we will not be intimidated.\u201d
Melissa Hellmann contributed reporting<\/em><\/p>\n

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