A wave of threats targeting historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) on Sept. 11 triggered emergency lockdowns, shelter-in-place orders, and widespread class cancellations across campuses in Alabama, Georgia, Virginia, Florida, and Louisiana.
Alabama State University, Hampton University, Virginia State University, Southern University & A&M College, Bethune-Cookman University, Clark Atlanta University, Spelman College, Morehouse College, Morris Brown College, and Morehouse School of Medicine were among the schools forced to suspend operations.
At Alabama State, the administration described the threat as “terroristic” and suspended all campus activities, directing residential students to shelter in place before issuing an all-clear later in the day.
Hampton University canceled classes and nonessential activities through Friday, citing an ongoing security review. Virginia State initially placed its campus on lockdown and canceled classes, later restricting access to ID holders only.
In Baton Rouge, Southern University locked down its campus following a threat, later lifting the order but canceling all weekend activities as a precaution. Bethune-Cookman University ordered students to shelter in place via official social media accounts before confirming a full campus closure and cancellation of classes.
Atlanta’s Clark Atlanta University, along with neighboring Spelman and Morehouse, issued shelter-in-place advisories tied to the Clark Atlanta situation. The orders were lifted after sweeps, but neighboring institutions including Morris Brown College and Morehouse School of Medicine also enacted — then rescinded — brief lockdowns.
The coordinated nature of the threats unsettled students.
“It definitely does feel like we have a target on our back right now,” Hampton University sophomore Amirah Woodruff told WTKR, reflecting the frustration and fear that spread across HBCU communities.
While no connection has been confirmed, some students speculated about the timing of the threats coming just one day after the high-profile shooting of Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University.
University leaders across the affected campuses confirmed that local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies are actively investigating. Many schools have moved some operations online, while urging students, faculty, and staff to monitor official social media and safety channels for updates.
Legal experts note that if perpetrators are identified, potential federal charges could include making terroristic threats, using interstate communications to threaten, and civil rights violations targeting institutions serving predominantly Black student populations.
