By Alisha Ebrahimji, Holly Yan and Paul P. Murphy, CNN
(CNN) A growing number of historically Black colleges and universities have had to lock down or postpone classes due to bomb threats on the first day of Black History Month.
At least 14 HBCUs reported bomb threats Tuesday. At least one of them, Howard University, also received a bomb threat Monday.
In some instances, local police and sheriff’s departments were responding to the threats; in other cases, campus police were handling the response.
US Education Secretary Miguel Cardona called the threats “disturbing” and said they would not be tolerated.
“My team will continue to work with students, faculty, and alumni to make sure HBCUs continue to be a safe place for students to learn,” Cardona tweeted Tuesday.
These are some of the universities that reported bomb threats Tuesday:
A message on the university’s website said all classes would be online Tuesday.
“If you are on campus, please, shelter in place, and wait for further instructions,” the message said. “Emergency officials are evaluating the campus and we will provide updates, as soon as possible.”
Sabrina Taylor, the undergraduate program director at Coppin State, said she got a call at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday telling her not to come to work because there was an emergency on campus.
When she learned the emergency was a bomb threat, Taylor said she was saddened for the students.
“Many of our students in the HBCUs, they are first-generation college students. And they are there to advance their education and to create opportunity — not only for themselves, but for their families,” said Taylor, an assistant professor at the school.
“Now they have to deal with bomb threats.”
Taylor said she immediately reached out to her students to check in and make sure they felt supported and safe.
“I wanted to encourage them to be empowered and I wanted to encourage them to realize that even though they are being threatened and they are experiencing adversity, they are walking in their purpose,” she said.
“They are on their path to greatness, and they cannot let individuals who their intention is to cause destruction, chaos and fear and doubt, stop them from walking and their purpose.” Other schools threatened were Jackson State University, Mississippi Valley State University, Morgan State University, Alcorn State University, Tougaloo College, Kentucky State University, Fort Valley State University, Xavier University, University of the District of Columbia, Spelman College, Edward Waters University, and Rust College.
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