Rust College Campus Alert
UM Insight Screenshot
Three United Methodist-related historically Black colleges and universities were among a spate of similar schools threatened Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 with bombing, according to multiple media reports.
Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, Fla., Rust College in Holly Springs, Miss., and Philander Smith College in Little Rock, Ark., received bomb threats in pre-dawn hours on Jan. 31. Nationwide, at least a dozen HBCUs received threats including prominent colleges such as Howard University in Washington, D. C., along with Albany State University in Georgia; Southern University and A&M College in Baton Rouge, La.; Bowie State University in Maryland; and Delaware State University.
At Bethune-Cookman a campus-wide lockdown was put in place just after 4:30 a.m. on Jan. 31. On Feb. 1, Philander Smith issued a campus alert, shifting to remote instruction where possible and advising resident students to stay in their dorms. Rust College also issued a shelter-in-place alert while local law enforcement investigated the bomb threat (see accompanying screenshot).
Daytona Beach Police Chief Jakari Young told USA Today that his agency had identified a hate group, Atomwaffen, as the source of the threats at Bethune-Cookman. He described the group as a “neo-Nazi organization.”
Potential suspects of the bomb threats at other schools weren’t identified in media.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation issued a statement Feb. 2 on the bomb threats:
"The FBI Joint Terrorism Task Forces are leading the investigation into the nationwide series of bomb threats to Historically Black Colleges and Universities and houses of worship. This investigation is of the highest priority for the Bureau and involves more than 20 FBI field offices across the country. These threats are being investigated as racially or ethnically motivated violent extremism and hate crimes. We are working closely with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners; coordinating with the targeted institutions; and meeting with academia and faith leaders to share information.
"Although at this time no explosive devices have been found at any of the locations, the FBI takes all threats with the utmost seriousness, and we are committed to thoroughly and aggressively investigating these threats.
"Due to the continuing investigation, we are unable to provide more details at this time.
"The FBI will continue our work to make sure all races and religions feel safe in their communities, schools, and places of worship. We would like to remind members of the public that if they observe anything suspicious or have information about potential threats to report it to law enforcement immediately, call their local FBI field office, or submit a tip to tips.fbi.gov."
Bethune-Cookman, Philander Smith and Rust are among 11 HBCUs officially related to The United Methodist Church that are supported by the denomination's Black College Fund. The UMC supports the largest number of HBCUs among U.S. churches.
The bomb threats came at the start of Black History Month, an observance that emphasizes learning about African Americans' contributions to the history of the United States of America.
Cynthia B. Astle serves as Editor of United Methodist Insight, which she founded in 2011.