Several Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), including Alabama State, Hampton, Virginia State, Southern, and Bethune-Cookman, went into lockdown after reported threats.
Southern later lifted its lockdown, though classes and activities were canceled through the weekend. Thousands of students were affected, with no injuries reported, and possible ties to the recent Utah shooting still unconfirmed.
Spelman College also urged students and faculty to stay off campus after a threat targeting nearby Clark Atlanta University, though the shelter order was later lifted. Clark Atlanta confirmed police are investigating. Additionally, Virginia State issued an urgent 8:30 a.m. alert closing campus, with officials and law enforcement partners probing the threat’s credibility.
Alabama State told USA TODAY it received “terrorist threats” and closed campus operations out of an abundance of caution, issuing the following statement: “We are working in close coordination with the appropriate law enforcement agencies to assess the situation and to ensure the safety and security of our students, faculty, staff, and the broader ASU community.”
Hampton University canceled classes for Sept. 11 and 12, issuing their own statement: “Hampton University has received notice of a potential threat and has ceased all non-essential activity, effective immediately.”
MSNBC host Rev. Al Sharpton condemned the threats, noting HBCUs have faced repeated attacks. According to an analysis by USA Today, in 2022, over two dozen schools in 12 states and D.C. received bomb threats, triggering a federal hate crime probe. In 2023, a gunman was confronted at Edward Waters University and later killed three at a nearby store, and in 2024, a shooting at Tuskegee University left one dead and 16 injured.
“We have seen too much violence on our campuses, whether it was the brazen murder of Charlie Kirk yesterday or the threats against these HBCUs today,” Sharpton said in a statement. “Colleges and Universities should be a place of free expression and debate in a way that’s respectful, engaging, and productive. What we have seen the last two days is anything but that.”
Three HBCUs — Alabama State University, Hampton University and Virginia State University — have received campus threats
ASU and VSU are on lockdown, and Hampton has canceled classes today and Friday
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) September 11, 2025
Official statements from each university: pic.twitter.com/LpY2Yg9iDq
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) September 11, 2025
I deplore the shooting of Charlie Kirk and pray for his full recovery and for his family during this time.
Though I disagree with many of his positions and politics, neither he nor anyone else should ever be wounded or killed for exercising their beliefs. As someone who…
— Reverend Al Sharpton (@TheRevAl) September 10, 2025
