Police presence increased at Linden schools due to online misinformation about Charlie Kirk killing
There was a shelter-in-place at all Linden Public Schools on Thursday because of threats to the district and an employee.
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The Linden Police Department added increased officer presence at schools across the town on Friday out of an abundance of caution.
There was a shelter-in-place at all Linden Public Schools on Thursday because of threats to the district and an employee.
Linden officials say that there is a video circulating online depicting a woman celebrating the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was killed on Wednesday while speaking at a college event in Utah. People online wrongly identified this woman as an employee of the Linden Public School District.
As a result, police say the district and an employee were “flooded with threats of violence.”
Police, city officials and school administration say these threats are completely misplaced. The person in the video who celebrated Kirk’s death is not and has never been employed by Linden Public Schools.
It is unclear how and why the school employee was targeted. But the mayor says this employee is completely innocent, with no connection to the controversial video.
Superintendent of Linden Public Schools Dr. Atiya Y. Perkins said in a statement:
"Violence has no place in public education. We are grateful for the continued support of the Linden Police Department as they maintain an increased presence around our schools today to protect and reassure our community. Yesterday's threats resulted from online misinformation that presumed the person behind a disturbing social media post was associated with Linden Public Schools. Let me be very clear: this individual is not, nor has ever been, associated with Linden Public Schools, Linden, New Jersey. The safety and well-being of our students and staff remain our highest priority, and we will continue to work closely with the mayor's office and law enforcement to keep our school community safe."
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