Lincoln University holds prayer vigil for Historically Black Colleges and Universities receiving bomb threats
JEFFERSON CITY, MO (KMIZ)
Lincoln University in Jefferson City held a prayer vigil Wednesday to support Historically Black Colleges and Universities targeted by bomb threats. During the 10 a.m hour Wednesday, 12 preachers stepped to the podium one by one to pray for HBCU's around the country.
This comes after at least 17 HBCU's around the U.S. received bomb threats, including Harris-Stowe in St. Louis. Those prayers spoken from the 12 preachers Wednesday asked for, peace, healing and safety for all HBCU's around the country.
More than 20 people showed for the prayer vigil at Richardson Auditorium to show their support for HBCUs. Reverend W.T Edmonson had the idea for the prayer vigil after hearing of this news of the threats.
Edmonson felt the need to step in and help his brothers and sisters by contacting Lincoln University for a prayer vigil and talked to Lincoln University's president Dr. John B. Mosely about it.
Edmonson says he feels the bomb threats against HBCU's are coming because hate-mongers now feel it's okay to do so.
"You're always gonna have hate mongers but when you give them room to breathe and over the past four years, they felt they had the room to breathe and so now they feel comfortable coming out and saying and doing whatever they want to do," said Edmonson.
Dr. Moseley says the university hasn't received any bomb threats directly and he doesn't feel any extra pressure from the current situation.
"I feel no more pressure than I put on myself every day to come to work and be a great leader, to serve the people that are working alongside me. I'm a big proponent that if we take care of our people, our people will take care of our students," said Moseley.
When Moseley had the chance to speak during Wednesday's prayer vigil he said HBCU's were born out of segregation to create an educational home for minorities.
"The bomb threats themselves is disappointing that as a country we're still stooping to such lows to try to disrupt the educational system at HBCU's, so that's just a cowardly act and we've overcome more as HBCU's before and we'll continue to overcome," said Moseley.
Mosely says the university has received threats in the past, however, he says with the university police and surrounding agencies, he feels prepared.
Mar'Che Boggess, an alumnus of Lincoln University said it's disheartening.
"Honestly it's definitely been disheartening just knowing that HBCU's are created to foster a safe space for our community members and I think those direct threats are definitely honestly a threat to that safe space that we been able to cultivate over these past hundreds and hundreds of years," said Boggess.
Boggess says her advice to other HBCU's students is to stick together and be mindful and watchful of potential threats.
Lincoln University will celebrate its founder's day Thursday, Feb 10. honoring 156 years of education.
