Atlanta Congresswoman Nikema Williams has issued a call for federal prosecutions over recent threats made to Clark Atlanta and other HBCUs.
Rep. Williams said in a release Monday she had sent a joint letter with two other Democratic representatives, from Louisiana and Virginia, to FBI Director Kash Patel and Attorney General Pam Bondi on the matter.
The congresswoman said the letter urges the FBI and DOJ to “prosecute any persons found to have made these threats to the fullest extent of the law, including consideration of whether any actions violated federal, state, or local hate crimes, or anti-terrorism statutes.”
Threats were made at Clark Atlanta on Sept. 11 that resulted in a shelter-in-place on campus, with nearby Spelman also issuing a shelter-in-place.
Threats were also reported at Hampton University and Virginia State University in Virginia, and Southern University in Louisiana, along with other HBCUs. The other two representatives to sign the letter are Virginia Rep. Bobby Scott and Louisiana Rep. Cleo Fields.
The letter said in part:
“When there are threats to HBCU campuses, the intended message is clear: institutions of Black communities, and hubs for Black achievement are not safe.
“Threats of violence, and targeting Black students and institutions are an ongoing and extreme threat against Black communities. While we are grateful that Thursday’s threats were not carried out, violence against Black communities is a real and present danger.
“We cannot and will not stand by while students are unable to learn, while institutions are on-edge, and while our communities are not safe. We stand with the students, faculty, and staff that call HBCUs home, and urge you to fully investigate the disturbing threats made against HBCUs across the country last week.”
A series of bomb threats also targeted HBCUs, including those at the Atlanta University Center, back in early 2022. The FBI in that instance identified a juvenile ringleader behind the threats.
