L.A. Schools Close After Threats: Chaos on Social Media, as America’s Second Biggest District Locks Down
In the early hours of Tuesday morning, as families in Los Angeles were starting their day and getting their children ready for school, The Los Angeles Times reported that city officials were scrambling to lockdown over 900 locations in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) due to a "credible threat" of violence.
The decision to close the schools and make city-wide announcements came after a threat that involved multiple campuses was electronically sent to a school district board member. This sudden closure caused chaos among parents and educators as more than 600,000 students were told to stay home at the last minute. Many people in Los Angeles took to social media to investigate the threat, express their fears, and seek answers. Within minutes, the hashtag #LAUSD was trending nationally on Twitter. Here is a quick summary of the confusion, anxiety, and chaos that ensued following the closure of America’s second-largest school district:
One Twitter user reported, "Threat was made to students at schools. This was a broad threat."
The superintendent of LAUSD stated, "I want every school searched"; All LAUSD schools are closed today; electronic threat is being analyzed.
The board president assured everyone that all students are safe.
The closure of the schools with short notice presented a significant challenge for the district, which happens to be the second-largest public school system in the country. Schools had to contact and inform students and parents via phone calls and text messages about the cancellation of classes. One Twitter user inquired about what parents could do in response to the closure.
News about the potential closure spread shortly after.
People frantically called their friends with siblings attending LAUSD schools to warn them about the terrorist threats reported on the news.
Some students went to their school bus stops and waited for buses that never arrived.
Parents, who were not expecting their children home until later in the day, expressed fear and concern.
One parent shared that their child had come back home because there was no school due to threats.
While the situation was scary and upsetting, people expressed gratitude towards the LAPD and LAUSD for ensuring the safety of their children.
One parent drove all the way to their child’s school, only to find out that it was closed because of a bomb threat. This led to the question of when children would be safe.
School officials made efforts to inform parents who were unaware of the closure as they arrived outside the closed schools in their cars.
For students who were preparing for pre-holiday tests, the closure was a significant inconvenience.
— Kimberly Pattinson (@kimpattinson28) December 15, 2015
The students who were able to attend school had only one option to return home, thanks to LA’s Metro.
Today until 12pm: Students from #LAUSD can ride home for free with a valid school ID. At the faregates, use the intercom to enter. ^ST pic.twitter.com/1Q9BRHLSDF
— Metro (@metrolosangeles) December 15, 2015
Even before the live press conference at 9 a.m. PDT, many people across the country questioned the decision of LAUSD to close the schools. No one questioned it more than NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton, who stated that New York City had received a similar threat that was confirmed to be a prank.
#LAUSD UPDATE: Former LAPD chief Bratton says school officials overreacted to the threat ‘hoax’ https://t.co/hYq31SjR2G pic.twitter.com/l4qroO33YM
— CBS Los Angeles (@CBSLA) December 15, 2015
Officials in LA commenced this press conference by defending their decision to cancel schools in the second largest district in the United States. This speaks volumes.
— Cal Perry (@calmsnbc) December 15, 2015
The LA police chief stated, "We all have to make difficult choices. We have been through a lot. Should we risk putting our children through the same?"
— KSL 5 TV (@KSL5TV) December 15, 2015
If they react and nothing happens, they are criticized. If they don’t react and something happens, they are criticized. #LAUSD is in a lose-lose situation.
— leebothast (@leebothast) December 15, 2015
It is still unclear if schools will reopen on December 16.
The decision on whether to reopen #LAUSD schools tomorrow has not yet been made, according to officials.
— Joel Rubin (@joelrubin) December 15, 2015
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