FRANKFORT, Ky. — Multiple historically Black colleges and universities (HBCU) around the nation have been targets of bomb threats , including one here in Kentucky.

Kentucky State University received a threat on the first day of Black History Month, causing campus to shut down for several hours. 

What You Need To Know

  • KSU received a bomb threat Tuesday Morning

  • KSU was one of the many HBCUs nationwide to be targeted

  • Simmons College of KY and KSU are Kentucky’s two HBCUs

  • They cleared the bomb threat on campus

 

Clara Ross Stamps, acting president for Kentucky State University says campus was on lock down Tuesday morning, after campus police received a bomb threat.

“We enacted our emergency management team that moved forward to contact the appropriate law enforcement,” Stamps said.

KSU was one of the many nationwide HBCUs targeted on February 1, the first day of Black History Month. 

“We teach that every day to make sure our students know the importance of their heritage and the legacy and the shoulders in which they stand on,” Stamps said.

Kentucky State University is one of two HBCUs in the state, Simmons College of Kentucky in Louisville is the other.

“We work hand in hand to serve the Commonwealth’s people. And so our educational missions are unique, but again HBCUs were created to educate formerly enslaved persons,” Stamps said.

Frank Smith, with Simmons College, says he stands with KSU during these difficult times, and says there needs to be more awareness nationwide.

“When it comes to bomb threats. Bomb threats are in line with everything else. So what you will find among historic Black colleges and universities is the day to day understanding that this is our world of existence unfortunately,” Smith said.

Stamps says universities like Simmons and Kentucky State University are working to uplift Black America, and says situations like targeted nationwide bomb threats are unacceptable. 

“We’ll continue to work with law enforcement agencies to make sure that individuals who do such cowardly acts are brought to justice,” Stamps said.

Kentucky State University will go back to normal in person classes on Wednesday, with extra precautions requiring students and staff members to use their campus IDs to get into buildings on campus until further notice.