(WASHINGTON D.C., 2/4/2022) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed the FBI’s hate crime investigation into bomb threats targeting several historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and the identification of six persons of interest in connection with the case.
On Tuesday, the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force announced it was investigating the dozens of bomb threats received by HBCUs nationwide on Tuesday as “racially or ethnically motivated violent extremism and hate crimes.” On Monday, six HBCUs were targeted with similar bomb threats. Federal investigators have identified six persons of interest, described as “tech-savvy” juveniles, in connection with the case so far.
SEE: FBI investigating HBCU threats as hate crimes
FBI identifies six persons of interest with ‘racist motivation’ in HBCU bomb threats case
“We welcome the hate crime investigation into these threats and the progress in identifying possible suspects,” said CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell. “Law enforcement agencies must take the persistent threat of anti-Black racism seriously.”
Mitchell added, “As the grateful graduate of a historically Black college, I am confident these racist threats will, God willing, strengthen every HBCU’s resolve to continue doing their unique and important work.”
He noted that CAIR urged the FBI to launch a hate crime investigation into Monday’s threats.
He also noted that CAIR condemned similar bomb threats targeting HBCUs last month.
SEE: CAIR Condemns Bomb Threats Targeting 9 Historically Black Colleges and Universities
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Coordinator Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com