Bomb threats and evacuations have sparked fear and concern in California schools and libraries in the aftermath of right-wing attacks. Within a span of 24 hours, both an elementary school in Oakland and a local library in Davis were evacuated due to bomb threats. These incidents were fueled by provocative actions carried out by right-wing groups targeting LGBTQ communities and spreading hate speech.
In Davis, the Mary L. Stephens Davis Library was evacuated after receiving a bomb threat that contained anti-LGBTQ slurs and hateful language. The threat was believed to be in response to the library’s decision to remove the Moms for Liberty group, which had organized an anti-trans speaking event earlier in the month. A similar situation unfolded in Oakland, where an elementary school was evacuated following a bomb threat that included racist language. The threat came shortly after the school was targeted by the anti-LGBTQ Libs of TikTok account for promoting a diversity event.
Meanwhile, in Oklahoma, a school district has been facing an alarming influx of daily bomb threats since last week. The threats began after the state’s superintendent of public instruction, Ryan Walters, shared inflammatory posts from Libs of TikTok that targeted a library in the district for promoting what they deemed woke ideology. The Union Public Schools district, near Tulsa, has received bomb threats for six consecutive school days, leading state House Democrats to announce an impeachment probe against Walters.
Both Libs of TikTok and Moms for Liberty, the groups behind these attacks, have strong right-wing support and actively engage with issues affecting queer youth, identity, racial justice, and diversity in schools. However, it is clear that their actions are not motivated by genuine concern for children’s safety. Libs of TikTok has previously incited anti-trans bomb threats against a children’s hospital in Boston that offered gender-affirming care. These groups prioritize bullying and harassing marginalized communities to the extent that their actions are physically endangering children.
In the case of the Davis library, local police linked the bomb threat to two previous threats, all of which were in response to the library’s decision to remove Moms for Liberty for conducting a highly transphobic event. One of the speakers from the group took to Twitter to share details of what occurred and encouraged followers to identify the librarians, leave negative reviews, and harass the library with phone calls.
Similar harassment unfolded in the case of Chabot Elementary school in Oakland. Libs of TikTok systematically targeted the school on social media due to an event organized for Black, Brown, or API families. As a result of these attacks, the school’s equity and inclusion committee reported receiving nonstop calls, with Trump supporters and other racists spreading the school’s information by publicly sharing their address. The school ultimately received a threat that is now being investigated as a hate crime.
Law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, are actively investigating these bomb threats and related incidents. The mayor of Oakland, Sheng Thao, expressed outrage on Twitter, emphasizing the need to address the targeting of children, educators, and neighbors with malicious threats.
The sequence of bomb threats in California and the ongoing threats faced by an Oklahoma school district highlight the alarming danger posed by far-right groups. These incidents underscore the real and physical risks faced by marginalized communities, particularly children. It is essential to address these harassment campaigns and safeguard the well-being of those affected.
