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L.A. Schools Close After Threats: Chaos on Social Media, as America’s Second Biggest District Locks Down

By Mitchell Trinka

December 15, 2015

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As Los Angeles families were waking up and sending their kids off to school early Tuesday morning, The Los Angeles Times reports that city officials were racing to put more than 900 Los Angeles Unified School District locations on lockdown after receiving a “credible threat” of violence.

The school closures and city-wide announcements began after a threat involving multiple campuses was sent electronically to a school district board member this morning — announcements that quickly sparked chaos among parents and educators as more than 600,000 kids were effectively told to stay home at the last minute. Many Los Angelenos took to social media to investigate the threat, vent their fears and search for answers; within minutes, the hashtag #LAUSD was trending nationally on Twitter. Below, a quick survey of the confusion, anxiety and chaos that follows the sudden closure of America's second biggest school district:

"Threat was made to students at schools. This was a broad threat." #LAUSD #CBSLA

— Stephanie Simmons (@StephatCBS2) December 15, 2015

LAUSD Super: "I want every school searched"; All LAUSD schools closed today; electronic threat being analyzed pic.twitter.com/UHRpsf3XoN

— Eric Shackelford (@NBC4Shack) December 15, 2015

Board president: all students are safe.

— LAUSD (@LASchools) December 15, 2015

For the district, the second largest public school system in the nation, closing with short notice was no easy task, forcing schools to call and text students and parents to let them know school was cancelled.

@LASchools is there an update on what parents can do? #breakingnews #lausd buses not running due to threat? thx @YourTrafficCA

— Ester Martinez (@EsterMarSoCal) December 15, 2015

They were quickly followed by news of the potential closure.

#FoxAlert #LAUSD will hold a news conference about the "potential closure" of all schools due to "credible threat." @myfoxla

— MarlaTellez (@MarlaTellez) December 15, 2015

And panic from those who were making sure their friends and families were safe.

FRANTICALLY calling all of my friends with siblings who attend LAUSD schools to warn them about the terrorist threats on the news.

— Matt Van De Kamp (@IronMatttt) December 15, 2015

Some kids made it out to their school bus stop, waiting for a bus that didn't come.

@CBSLA students stranded waiting for bus to pick them up to Venice, Van Nuys and Bravo #lausd schools after threat pic.twitter.com/kBnHp8KTcV

— JASMINE VIEL (@jasmineviel) December 15, 2015

Parents, not expecting to see their kids before this afternoon, expressed fear and concern.

All LAUSD closed today because of electronic threat earlier this morning. As if it isn't tough enough to be a parent today.

— Sidney Iwanter (@greenbushboy) December 15, 2015

My kid just walked in the door. No school today at LAUSD schools. Threats made.

— Sarah Reingewirtz (@sarahimages) December 15, 2015

This is scary and upsetting!!! But thank you #LAPD and #LAUSD for securing our kids safety!!!!

— Monique Muñiz  (@MoniqueMuniz1) December 15, 2015

Drove all the way to my kids school only to find out it's closed due to a bomb threat on LAUSD school! When will our kids be safe! #whossafe

— Elinor McMillan (@BlueLAskies) December 15, 2015

School officials tried their best to alert parents who didn't know what was happening as they pulled up outside closed schools.

Logan Elementary principal Mojgan Moazzez telling parents about closure. Cars have been pulling up all morning. pic.twitter.com/LkaWvDEmt3

— Dakota Smith (@dakotacdsmith) December 15, 2015

For students ready to take pre-holiday tests, the closure couldn't have come at a worse time.

Kinda sucks having all lausd schools closed …i have finals and it just messed me up big time 🙁

— ❥ Alex Gabriela (@amourdulcee) December 15, 2015

All lausd schools closed today due to a terrorist threat. Well now i wonder what is going to happen with my finals 🙁 ugh. Dang.

— Kimberly Pattinson (@kimpattinson28) December 15, 2015

Those students who did make it to school had one option to get home thanks to LA's Metro.

Today thru 12pm: #LAUSD students ride home free w/ valid school ID. At faregates, use intercom to enter. ^ST pic.twitter.com/1Q9BRHLSDF

— Metro (@metrolosangeles) December 15, 2015

Even before a live press conference at 9 a.m. PDT, many across the country questioned LAUSD's choice to close, none bigger than NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton, who said New York City received a similar threat that was deemed a prank.

#LAUSD UPDATE: Ex-LAPD chief Bratton says school officials overreacted to threat 'hoax' https://t.co/hYq31SjR2G pic.twitter.com/l4qroO33YM

— CBS Los Angeles (@CBSLA) December 15, 2015

Officials in #LA started this presser by defending their decision to cancel schools in 2nd largest district in the US. Telling. #LAUSD

— Cal Perry (@calmsnbc) December 15, 2015

LA police chief: "All of us make hard choices. We've been through a lot. Should we risk putting our children through the same?" #LAUSD

— KSL 5 TV (@KSL5TV) December 15, 2015

If they react & nothing happens they get criticized; if they don't react & something happens they get criticized. #LAUSD no win situation

— leebothast (@leebothast) December 15, 2015

It isn't clear if schools will reopen on Dec. 16.

Decision whether to re-open #LAUSD schools tomorrow has not yet been made, officials say.

— Joel Rubin (@joelrubin) December 15, 2015

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                <h1>L.A. Schools Close After Threats: Chaos on Social Media, as America’s Second Biggest District Locks Down</h1>

                <h2></h2>

                <p class="sans">By <a rel="author" href="https://www.the74million.org/contributor/20095/">Mitchell Trinka</a></p>

                <img src="https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/1450196349_8040.jpg">

                <p>This story first appeared at <a href="https://www.the74million.org">The 74</a>, a nonprofit news site covering education. <a href="https://www.the74million.org/about/newsletters/?utm_source=republish-button&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=republish">Sign up for free newsletters from The 74</a> to get more like this in your inbox.</p>
                <div class="article__paragraph opening">As Los Angeles families were waking up and sending their kids off to school early Tuesday morning, <a href="http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-all-lausd-schools-closed-threat-20151215-story.html">The Los Angeles Times reports</a> that city officials were racing to put more than 900 Los Angeles Unified School District locations on lockdown after receiving a “credible threat” of violence.</div>
<div class="article__paragraph">The school closures and city-wide announcements began after a threat involving multiple campuses was sent electronically to a school district board member this morning — announcements that quickly sparked chaos among parents and educators as more than 600,000 kids were effectively told to stay home at the last minute. Many Los Angelenos took to social media to investigate the threat, vent their fears and search for answers; within minutes, the hashtag <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LAUSD?src=tren">#LAUSD</a> was trending nationally on Twitter. Below, a quick survey of the confusion, anxiety and chaos that follows the sudden closure of America's second biggest school district:</div>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">"Threat was made to students at schools. This was a broad threat." <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LAUSD?src=hash">#LAUSD</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CBSLA?src=hash">#CBSLA</a></p>
<p>— Stephanie Simmons (@StephatCBS2) <a href="https://twitter.com/StephatCBS2/status/676784136820953089">December 15, 2015</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">LAUSD Super: "I want every school searched"; All LAUSD schools closed today; electronic threat being analyzed <a href="https://t.co/UHRpsf3XoN">pic.twitter.com/UHRpsf3XoN</a></p>
<p>— Eric Shackelford (@NBC4Shack) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBC4Shack/status/676783139499278336">December 15, 2015</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Board president: all students are safe.</p>
<p>— LAUSD (@LASchools) <a href="https://twitter.com/LASchools/status/676783524209266690">December 15, 2015</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<div class="article__paragraph">For the district, the second largest public school system in the nation, closing with short notice was no easy task, forcing schools to call and text students and parents to let them know school was cancelled.</div>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/LASchools">@LASchools</a> is there an update on what parents can do? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/breakingnews?src=hash">#breakingnews</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/lausd?src=hash">#lausd</a> buses not running due to threat? thx <a href="https://twitter.com/YourTrafficCA">@YourTrafficCA</a></p>
<p>— Ester Martinez (@EsterMarSoCal) <a href="https://twitter.com/EsterMarSoCal/status/676772847088365570">December 15, 2015</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<div class="article__paragraph">They were quickly followed by news of the potential closure.</div>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FoxAlert?src=hash">#FoxAlert</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LAUSD?src=hash">#LAUSD</a> will hold a news conference about the "potential closure" of all schools due to "credible threat." <a href="https://twitter.com/myfoxla">@myfoxla</a></p>
<p>— MarlaTellez (@MarlaTellez) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarlaTellez/status/676775968078348288">December 15, 2015</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<div class="article__paragraph">And panic from those who were making sure their friends and families were safe.</div>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">FRANTICALLY calling all of my friends with siblings who attend LAUSD schools to warn them about the terrorist threats on the news.</p>
<p>— Matt Van De Kamp (@IronMatttt) <a href="https://twitter.com/IronMatttt/status/676783215512686594">December 15, 2015</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<div class="article__paragraph">Some kids made it out to their school bus stop, waiting for a bus that didn't come.</div>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/CBSLA">@CBSLA</a> students stranded waiting for bus to pick them up to Venice, Van Nuys and Bravo <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/lausd?src=hash">#lausd</a> schools after threat <a href="https://t.co/kBnHp8KTcV">pic.twitter.com/kBnHp8KTcV</a></p>
<p>— JASMINE VIEL (@jasmineviel) <a href="https://twitter.com/jasmineviel/status/676780690587828225">December 15, 2015</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<div class="article__paragraph">Parents, not expecting to see their kids before this afternoon, expressed fear and concern.</div>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">All LAUSD closed today because of electronic threat earlier this morning. As if it isn't tough enough to be a parent today.</p>
<p>— Sidney Iwanter (@greenbushboy) <a href="https://twitter.com/greenbushboy/status/676783264774938624">December 15, 2015</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">My kid just walked in the door. No school today at LAUSD schools. Threats made.</p>
<p>— Sarah Reingewirtz (@sarahimages) <a href="https://twitter.com/sarahimages/status/676783322777780224">December 15, 2015</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">This is scary and upsetting!!! But thank you <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LAPD?src=hash">#LAPD</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LAUSD?src=hash">#LAUSD</a> for securing our kids safety!!!!</p>
<p>— Monique Muñiz  (@MoniqueMuniz1) <a href="https://twitter.com/MoniqueMuniz1/status/676783326913433600">December 15, 2015</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Drove all the way to my kids school only to find out it's closed due to a bomb threat on LAUSD school! When will our kids be safe! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/whossafe?src=hash">#whossafe</a></p>
<p>— Elinor McMillan (@BlueLAskies) <a href="https://twitter.com/BlueLAskies/status/676784550773657600">December 15, 2015</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<div class="article__paragraph">School officials tried their best to alert parents who didn't know what was happening as they pulled up outside closed schools.</div>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Logan Elementary principal Mojgan Moazzez telling parents about closure. Cars have been pulling up all morning. <a href="https://t.co/LkaWvDEmt3">pic.twitter.com/LkaWvDEmt3</a></p>
<p>— Dakota Smith (@dakotacdsmith) <a href="https://twitter.com/dakotacdsmith/status/676793390332166144">December 15, 2015</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<div class="article__paragraph">For students ready to take pre-holiday tests, the closure couldn't have come at a worse time. </div>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Kinda sucks having all lausd schools closed …i have finals and it just messed me up big time 🙁</p>
<p>— ❥ Alex Gabriela (@amourdulcee) <a href="https://twitter.com/amourdulcee/status/676783321007849472">December 15, 2015</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">All lausd schools closed today due to a terrorist threat. Well now i wonder what is going to happen with my finals 🙁 ugh. Dang.</p>
<p>— Kimberly Pattinson (@kimpattinson28) <a href="https://twitter.com/kimpattinson28/status/676784581299728384">December 15, 2015</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<div class="article__paragraph">Those students who did make it to school had one option to get home thanks to LA's Metro.</div>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Today thru 12pm: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LAUSD?src=hash">#LAUSD</a> students ride home free w/ valid school ID. At faregates, use intercom to enter. ^ST <a href="https://t.co/1Q9BRHLSDF">pic.twitter.com/1Q9BRHLSDF</a></p>
<p>— Metro (@metrolosangeles) <a href="https://twitter.com/metrolosangeles/status/676799964077535235">December 15, 2015</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<div class="article__paragraph">Even before a live press conference at 9 a.m. PDT, many across the country questioned LAUSD's choice to close, none bigger than NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton, who said New York City received a similar threat that was deemed a prank.</div>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LAUSD?src=hash">#LAUSD</a> UPDATE: Ex-LAPD chief Bratton says school officials overreacted to threat 'hoax' <a href="https://t.co/hYq31SjR2G">https://t.co/hYq31SjR2G</a> <a href="https://t.co/l4qroO33YM">pic.twitter.com/l4qroO33YM</a></p>
<p>— CBS Los Angeles (@CBSLA) <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSLA/status/676817484322766849">December 15, 2015</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Officials in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LA?src=hash">#LA</a> started this presser by defending their decision to cancel schools in 2nd largest district in the US. Telling. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LAUSD?src=hash">#LAUSD</a></p>
<p>— Cal Perry (@calmsnbc) <a href="https://twitter.com/calmsnbc/status/676827699168571394">December 15, 2015</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">LA police chief: "All of us make hard choices. We've been through a lot. Should we risk putting our children through the same?" <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LAUSD?src=hash">#LAUSD</a></p>
<p>— KSL 5 TV (@KSL5TV) <a href="https://twitter.com/KSL5TV/status/676827650862682112">December 15, 2015</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">If they react & nothing happens they get criticized; if they don't react & something happens they get criticized. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LAUSD?src=hash">#LAUSD</a> no win situation</p>
<p>— leebothast (@leebothast) <a href="https://twitter.com/leebothast/status/676827907700879360">December 15, 2015</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<div class="article__paragraph">It isn't clear if schools will reopen on Dec. 16.</div>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Decision whether to re-open <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LAUSD?src=hash">#LAUSD</a> schools tomorrow has not yet been made, officials say.</p>
<p>— Joel Rubin (@joelrubin) <a href="https://twitter.com/joelrubin/status/676832095201726464">December 15, 2015</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>

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L.A. Schools Close After Threats: Chaos on Social Media, as America’s Second Biggest District Locks Down

Untangle Your Mind!

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