Van Hollen, Cardin Urge Swift Response from DOJ, FBI to Recent HBCU Bomb Threats

Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) urged the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to ensure the ongoing investigation into the bomb threats recently made against Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) across the country is conducted swiftly, thoroughly, and with sufficient resources. 

In their letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland and FBI Director Chris Wray, the lawmakers note that HBCUs in Maryland and in nearby Washington, D.C. – Bowie State University, Coppin State University, Morgan State University, Howard University, and the University of the District of Columbia – were among those targeted as Black History Month had just begun, disrupting and inciting fear on their campuses and in their communities.

“These threats forced campus lockdowns and class cancelations and created an environment of fear for students, faculty, staff, their families, and their communities. Moreover, Tuesday’s threats came on the first day of Black History Month, a time to honor Black Americans across this nation and to commemorate their achievements,” the Senators write.“During the Jim Crow era, white supremacists sought to disrupt civil rights activities and harm and intimidate Black communities through bombings, threats, and other acts of terror and violence against Black schools, churches, and neighborhoods. The recent spate of bomb threats against our Historically Black Colleges and Universities brings this painful history into sharp focus. 

“We must act with urgency to address these injustices and ensure the safety of our HBCU communities. We understand that the FBI’s investigation into these attacks is underway and urge the FBI to ensure its investigation is well-resourced, thorough, swift, and in coordination with local law enforcement. Furthermore, we request that the Department of Justice act quickly upon the FBI’s investigation findings to hold the perpetrators accountable,” the lawmakers conclude.

The full letter is available here and below. 

Dear Attorney General Garland and Director Wray:

We are writing to urge swift action by the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation in response to the bomb threats against Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). 

On January 31^st and February 1^st, approximately twenty HBCUs received bomb threats, including Bowie State University, Coppin State University, and Morgan State University of Maryland and Howard University and the University of the District of Columbia in Washington, DC. These threats forced campus lockdowns and class cancelations and created an environment of fear for students, faculty, staff, their families, and their communities. 

Moreover, Tuesday’s threats came on the first day of Black History Month, a time to honor Black Americans across this nation and to commemorate their achievements. It is also a time to reflect on the historical roots of systemic racism and racial violence and the legacies that remain evident in our nation today. During the Jim Crow era, white supremacists sought to disrupt civil rights activities and harm and intimidate Black communities through bombings, threats, and other acts of terror and violence against Black schools, churches, and neighborhoods. The recent spate of bomb threats against our Historically Black Colleges and Universities brings this painful history into sharp focus. We must act with urgency to address these injustices and ensure the safety of our HBCU communities.

We understand that the FBI’s investigation into these attacks is underway and urge the FBI to ensure its investigation is well-resourced, thorough, swift, and in coordination with local law enforcement. Furthermore, we request that the Department of Justice act quickly upon the FBI’s investigation findings to hold the perpetrators accountable.

Sincerely,