Multiple HBCUs on Lockdown After Threats Reported

Date: September 12, 2025

Several HBCU colleges have gone into lockdown after receiving potential threats on Thursday. The schools affected include Virginia State University, Alabama State University, Hampton University, Southern University in Louisiana, Clark Atlanta University in Georgia, and Bethune-Cookman University in Florida. Spelman College, located near Clark Atlanta, also issued a shelter-in-place order as a precaution.

FBI Response to HBCU Threats

The FBI confirmed that it is investigating multiple HBCU threats and called them “hoax threat calls.” Federal investigators stressed that while there is no evidence of a credible threat, these actions put HBCUs and their communities at risk. HBCU lockdown measures are being taken very seriously across all affected campuses.

Universities Under Lockdown

• Virginia State University Lockdown: The university announced a full lockdown and asked students, faculty, and staff to remain indoors while the situation was investigated.
• Alabama State: Increased security measures on campus while confirming that no physical incidents have been reported.
• Hampton University Potential Threat: All nonessential campus activities, including athletic events, were canceled through Friday.
• Southern University in Baton Rouge: A lockdown was issued across the entire campus, including the Law Center. Later, all classes and events were canceled through the weekend.
• Bethune-Cookman: The Florida-based HBCU confirmed its campus lockdown on Instagram after receiving a possible threat.
• Clark Atlanta University: Students were advised to shelter in place, with neighboring Spelman College also implementing similar protocols.

Context and Recent Incidents

These HBCUs on lockdown come amid rising tensions after the tragic campus shooting at Utah Valley University that killed conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. Officials, however, have not connected the HBCU threats to that incident.

Civil rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton condemned the ongoing violence, referencing previous attacks such as the 2023 threat at Edward Waters University and the 2024 Tuskegee University shooting. Sharpton said, “We must end violence against HBCUs and protect historically Black colleges and universities at all costs.”

History of HBCU Threats

In 2022, many HBCU colleges received bomb threats that were later deemed hoaxes. The FBI identified a juvenile as responsible for most of those racially motivated threats. Unfortunately, the latest wave of threats is reviving fears among HBCUs students and staff nationwide.

Community Alert

Campus officials from Virginia State University, Southern University, Hampton University, Clark Atlanta University, and Bethune-Cookman are urging everyone to remain vigilant. The message across all HBCU colleges is clear: “If you see something, say something.”