WWU students receive racist emails encouraging violence against Black students

BELLINGHAM, Wash. — Officials at Western Washington University in Bellingham are trying to track down who’s responsible for sending racist emails on Saturday encouraging violence against Black students.

The message was sent to students in three courses.

The emails are the latest in a series of recent incidents on campus. Antisemitic and white supremacist graffiti was posted on a free-speech board at the student center last month, according to the Bellingham Herald.

It is not known if the cases are connected.

WWU sent an alert to faculty, staff and students about this weekend’s threatening email.

An update was shared on the university’s website Monday:

Dear Western Community,

Following our Western Alert this weekend, we wanted to share more information and some updates.

On Saturday, students in three courses received a racist email encouraging violence against Black students. The message is deeply offensive and strikes at the heart of our values and community. Police and Information Technology are investigating how and by whom that message was sent. We are relieved to share that there are no other indicators of an elevated risk of racially-targeted violence on campus. If more information becomes available, we will notify the campus community. There will be supportive community space in the Multicultural Center today from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and in the Black Student Coalition from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. for students to be together.

Care and compassion for everyone impacted by this circumstance is very important, and we encourage all members of the campus community to reach out and support one another.

Brad Johnson, Provost

Jacqueline Hughes, Chief Diversity Officer

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