Louisiana Congressmen Cleo Fields and Troy Carter are alarmed and angered by a wave of threats to Southern University and other HBCU campuses in the wake of conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s assassination at Utah Valley University that has all colleges on edge.
Five Historically Black Colleges and Universities went into lockdown Sept. 11 after threats were directed at the campuses, school officials announced.
Southern, Alabama State University, Hampton University, Virginia State University and Bethune-Cookman University all received unspecified threats.
The lockdown at Southern’s Baton Rouge campus was later lifted, but all campus activities and classes are cancelled through the weekend.
Fields and Carter, both Democrats, are Louisiana HBCU graduates. Fields graduated from Southern and Carter graduated from Xavier University in New Orleans.
“It’s shameful,” Fields said in an interview with USA Today Network. “It’s totally unacceptable. Everybody needs to tone down this violent rhetoric.
“Anytime student safety is threatened it’s alarming. This was wrong, diruptive and those responsible should be held accountable.”
Southern’s Baton Rouge campus is located in Fields’ 6th Congressional District, which also includes Shreveport.
He said public officials must set an example.
“We all need to be better stewards of peaceful, respectful debate,” Fields said.
Carter, who represents New Orleans in his 2nd Congressional District, said in a statement he is “outraged and deeply disturbed by the recent threats made against Historically Black Colleges and Universities.”
Carter, a member of the House Homeland Security Committee, said he “will not stand idly by while these hateful cowards attempt to spread fear and division,” calling on the FBI “to utilize every available resource to identify, apprehend and prosecute those responsible.”
“These attacks cannot be tolerated, minimized, or ignored,” Carter said. “They must be met with swift and decisive action.”
More: New Orleans Congressman Troy Carter reacts to Mayor LaToya Cantrell indictment
Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1.
This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Southern University, other HBCU campuses locked down after threats
