Department of Education offers grants to HBCUs that have received bomb threats.
The U.S. Department of Education announced on Wednesday that they have created a new program to make grants available to Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) as they experience bomb threats. The Project School Emergency Response to Violence (Project SERV) program will be operational in the short term to help HBCUs enhance campus security and provide mental health programs for students and faculty impacted by the threats.
Grant funds could range from $50,000 to $150,000 per school, and staff with the Department of Education will work with each HBCU to help determine their specific immediate needs.
“Threats to the education and well-being of Black Americans and HBCUs are an unfortunate part of American history,” the White House stated. “The bomb threats that we witnessed in January, each week in February – Black History Month, and this month are reminiscent of the attempts during the Civil Rights Era to intimidate and provoke fear in Black Americans.”
According to the White House, more than a third of the nation’s HBCUs have received bomb threats across the last two months. The American Rescue Plan has already delivered $5.8 billion to HBCUs.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For wisdom for Secretary Cardona as he oversees the distribution of funds.
- For the president and his administration as they address discrimination and threats of hate crimes in U.S. society.
- For the safety of students and faculty at HBCU schools.
Sources: the Hill, Axios, The White House
