The White House announced an initiative aimed at improving campus security and mental health services at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) after dozens of bomb threats at many institutions this year. Vice President Kamala Harris said HBCUs that recently experienced a bomb threat are eligible for grant funds for their "immediate needs." The awards, from the Project School Emergency Response to Violence program, may include "targeted mental health resources or enhanced security, to restore the learning environment on their campuses," Axios reports. The grant could range from $50,000 to $150,000 per school.
The White House is issuing a resource guide for HBCUs from across the federal government "to help with long-term improvements to campus mental health programs, campus safety, and emergency management planning." More than one-third of HBCUs have received bomb threats over the last two month. The White House said, "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."
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