Adams, Hill, Scott, and HBCU Caucus Celebrate Passage of Resolution Condemning Bomb Threats

By Sam Spencer

Today, Congresswoman Alma Adams (D-NC-12), Congressman French Hill (R-AR-02), Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA-03), and the Congressional Bipartisan HBCU Caucus celebrated the passage of H. Con. Res. 70, a resolution condemning threats of violence against historically Black colleges and universities (“HBCUs”) and reaffirming support for HBCUs and their students.

“I’m proud of the House for passing H. Con. Res. 70, a resolution that condemns the despicable, cowardly bomb threats to Historically Black Colleges and Universities on multiple days this year,” said Congresswoman Alma Adams, founder and cochair of the Congressional Bipartisan HBCU Caucus. “These threats were hate crimes. They were acts of terror. As a proud HBCU alumnae and professor, I know HBCUs can overcome any challenge, but those challenges shouldn’t include violence. Terrorism and racism have no place on college campuses – or anywhere else. “In addition to this resolution, we have put forward legislation tohelp safeguard our campuses – the IGNITE HBCU and MSI Excellence Act. This bill allows HBCUs to apply for grants to improve their campus infrastructure, including the installation of necessary security features that would keep students and faculty safe. While today’s resolution rightly honors our hallowed institutions, we must also honor them with action – by passing IGNITE,” concluded Adams. “HBCUs are integral parts of our communities and for thousands of students in Arkansas and across the nation, HBCUs provide an opportunity to pursue the American dream. All four of Arkansas’s HBCUs received bomb threats and at least 24 others have received bomb threats, some multiple times. These threats of violence are unacceptable and have no place in our society. I thank my friend, Rep. Adams, for joining me in introducing this resolution and my colleagues in the House for their support condemning these threats. I will continue to support the FBI’s efforts to investigate these threats and bring those responsible to justice,” said Rep. French Hill, an original cosponsor of the resolution and co-chair of the Congressional Bipartisan HBCU Caucus.

“Over the past few months, more than thirty of our nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities—including Norfolk State University and Hampton University in my district—have faced an alarming series of bomb threats. These threats of violence against HBCU students, staff, and communities are deplorable and unacceptable,” said Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott. “Congresswoman Adams’ resolution not only condemns the recent threats of violence, but also reaffirms our shared commitment to protecting the safety of HBCU students. I am proud to support her resolution and thank her for her leadership. Moving forward, we must also build on the historic relief funding that Congress has provided for these critical institutions and secure the resources they need to recover from the pandemic and prepare students for success.”

“The disturbing pattern of bomb threats that has been disrupting our nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities —including Delaware State University—is unacceptable,” said Senator Chris Coons (D-DE), co-chair of the HBCU Caucus. “I’m glad that the House has followed the Senate with a bipartisan condemnation of this upsetting trend while the FBI continues to investigate these cases as racially motivated. HBCU students deserve a quality education within a safe and vibrant campus community. I look forward to additional collaboration with the Congressional HBCU Caucus to help ensure that these important institutions have the resources they need to best support students on campus.”

“The recent bomb threats against our nation’s HBCUs are vile acts of cowardice and should be met with severe consequences,” saidSen. Tim Scott (R-SC), co-chair of the HBCU Caucus. “With this resolution, we reaffirm our commitment to fighting hatred and violence wherever they are found, especially on our college campuses. Students should be able to focus on their friends, their social activities, and — most importantly — their education, without having to fear for their safety.”

“Historically Black Colleges and Universities are an integral part of our nation’s education system and our history. Despicable threats of violence, including the string of bomb threats targeting HBCUs earlier this year, are completely unacceptable,” said Rep. Terri Sewell (D-AL-07), vice chair of the HBCU Caucus. “As Vice Chair of the Congressional HBCU Caucus whose district is home to some of the most prominent HBCUs in the nation, I condemn these threats in the strongest terms. I applaud my colleague, Congresswoman Adams, for introducing this resolution which makes clear that the United States Congress is committed to fostering safe environments at HBCUs so that our students can thrive without fear of violence and terror.”

“Today, the House passed a resolution condemning violence against HBCUs. As a vice-chair of the HBCU caucus, I could not be more proud to join my fellow colleagues in supporting this resolution and call out racism against students in the U.S. I will continue to support not only HBCUs in my community, but across America,” said Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH-10), vice chair of the HBCU Caucus.

The resolution is supported by numerous organizations including UNCF, TMCF, and NAFEO.

“We thank Congresswoman Adams for leading the way and shepherding H. Con. Res. 70, a resolution that condemns the recent terroristic threats to HBCUs across the county,” said Harry L. Williams President and CEO of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF). “This resolution symbolizes Congress saying with one voice that hatred and threats of violence will not be tolerated. We continue to anticipate and expect that the Justice Department will prosecute the individuals responsible for these heinous acts to the fullest extent of their authority and we look forward to the swift conclusion of this matter.”

“Passing this resolution was essential as far as UNCF (United Negro College Fund) is concerned,” said Dr. Michael L. Lomax, President & CEO of UNCF. “The disruption, anguish, and acts of terror that more than one-third of all HBCUs have experienced in January and February of this year are unacceptable. While we are glad for Rep. Adams and others were able to pass this resolution in an overwhelmingly bipartisan manner, we are still waiting for the perpetrators of these hate crimes to be brought to justice.”

The 113 House cosponsors of the resolution include Representatives Nancy Pelosi, Steny Hoyer, James E. Clyburn, Joyce Beatty, Robert C. “Bobby” Scott, Pete Aguilar, Nanette Diaz Barragán, Karen Bass, Joyce Beatty, Sanford D. Bishop, Jr., Lisa Blunt Rochester, Jamaal Bowman, Shontel Brown, Anthony G. Brown, Cori Bush, G. K. Butterfield, Salud Carbajal, André Carson, Troy A. Carter, Sr., Kathy Castor, Joaquin Castro, David N. Cicilline, Katherine M. Clark, Yvette D. Clarke, Emanuel Cleaver, II, Jim Cooper, Jim Costa, Joe Courtney, Charlie Crist, Danny K. Davis, Peter A. DeFazio, Lloyd Doggett, Byron Donalds, Ruben Gallego, John Garamendi, Sylvia R. Garcia, Al Green, Jahana Hayes, Chrissy Houlahan, Sheila Jackson Lee, Sara Jacobs, Hakeem Jeffries, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Jr., Mondaire Jones, Kaiali‘i Kahele, Marcy Kaptur, James Langevin, John B. Larson, Brenda Lawrence, Al Lawson, Barbara Lee, Susie Lee, Julia Letlow, Ted W. Lieu, Elaine G. Luria, Carolyn B. Maloney, Sean Patrick Maloney, Kathy Manning, Lucy McBath, Betty McCollum, James P. McGovern, Gregory W. Meeks, Grace Meng, Kweisi Mfume, Jerrold Nadler, Joe Neguse, Marie Newman, Donald Norcross, Ralph Norman, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Ilhan Omar, Frank Pallone, Jr., Chris Pappas, Donald M. Payne, Jr., Scott Peters, Stacey E. Plaskett, Ayanna Pressley, Mike Quigley, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Deborah K. Ross, C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, Bobby Rush, Michael F.Q. San Nicolas, John P. Sarbanes, Mary Gay Scanlon, Jan Schakowsky, Adam Schiff, Bradley S. Schneider, Kurt Schrader, David Scott, Terri A. Sewell, Albio Sires, Elissa Slotkin, Jackie Speier, Haley Stevens, Marilyn Strickland, Thomas R. Suozzi, Mark Takano, Bennie Thompson, William R. Timmons, IV, Dina Titus, Ritchie Torres, Lori Trahan, David Trone, Mike Turner, Juan Vargas, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Nikema Williams, Frederica Wilson, and John Yarmuth. Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. represents North Carolina’s 12th Congressional District (Charlotte, Mecklenburg County) in the US House of Representatives. She serves on the House Committee on Education and Labor, the House Agriculture Committee, and the House Financial Services Committee in the 117th Congress. Before being elected to Congress, she served as a professor at Bennett College in Greensboro for four decades. She serves as the founder and co-chair of the Congressional Bipartisan Historically Black Colleges and Universities Caucus.