Letter to Hon. Merrick Garland, Attorney General US Department of Justice, Congresswoman Wilson Leads Letter on Threats to HBCUs

Letter

February 4, 2022
The Honorable Merrick Garland
Attorney General
U.S. Department of Justice
Office of the Attorney General
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530
Dear Attorney General Garland:
We write regarding the alarming threats of violence made against more than one dozen Historically
Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and to urge you to use every available resource to bring
those responsible to justice.
As members of Congress who oversee higher education issues, including campus safety and climate,
we are particularly concerned for the physical and mental wellbeing of HBCU students and their
broader campus communities. While, at this time, no physical violence has been reported, the threats
themselves have terrorized the predominantly Black students, faculty, and staff at these historic
institutions. HBCUs have a long history of being the targets of racially motivated violence and
intimidation, which too often have not garnered the appropriate level of attention.
It is disturbing that these coordinated threats have occurred leading up to the start of Black History
Month. HBCUs have produced many of the prominent Black leaders and innovators that are
celebrated every February and have long been a safe haven for students who historically were either
not welcomed at other institutions or faced great barriers to admittance. To honor this legacy, it is
essential that HBCU students feel safe on their campuses and the perpetrators of these hate crimes
be swiftly apprehended.
We ask that you utilize the full force of the federal government to thoroughly investigate these acts
of intimidation and that you remain in regular communication with HBCU leaders and Members of
Congress regarding any credible threats. Students, faculty, staff, and their families deserve timely and
accurate information about their safety and ongoing law enforcement efforts.
We thank you for your attention to this matter and look forward to hearing more about your efforts
to keep these campuses safe.
Sincerely,
__________________________
FREDERICA S. WILSON
Chairwoman
Higher Education and Workforce Investment Subcommittee,
House Committee on Education and Labor
__________________________
SUZANNE BONAMICI
Member of Congress
__________________________
JOAQUIN CASTRO
Member of Congress
__________________________
ADRIANO ESPAILLAT
Member of Congress
__________________________
PRAMILA JAYAPAL
Member of Congress
__________________________
ILHAN OMAR
Member of Congress
__________________________
JAMAAL BOWMAN, Ed.D.
Member of Congress
__________________________
JOE COURTNEY
Member of Congress
__________________________
RAÚL M. GRIJALVA
Member of Congress
__________________________
MONDAIRE JONES
Member of Congress
__________________________
MARK POCAN
Member of Congress
Cc: The Honorable Miguel Cardona, U.S. Secretary of Education