A Target in Layton, Utah, was evacuated after local officials said they were informed of a bomb threat to multiple Target locations over what the individual making the bomb threats described as Target “turning its back” on the LGBTQ+ community. Target, for reference, recently reduced the size of its “Pride” displays after outrage about its Satanist-designed merchandise reached a crescendo.
The statement Cleveland 19 received over email stated, “Target is full of [redacted] cowards who turned their back on the LGBT community and decided to cater to the homophobic right wing redneck bigots who protested and vandalized their store. We won’t stand idly by as the far right continues to hunt us down. We are sending you a message, we placed a bomb in the following targets.”
Continuing, it added, “We will continue to bomb your targets until you stop cowering and bring back your LGBT merchandise. We will not be erased, we won’t go quietly.”
The threatening email was aimed at Targets in Jackson Township, Boardman, Stow, Niles, and Monaca, Penn, but a Target in Utah received bomb threats as well and was evacuated, as the Daily Mail reported.
The Salt Lake City Police Department, in a statement on the shocking situation, said, “Officers have worked with the Target Corporation throughout the morning and have determined there is no credible threat to the Target stores in Salt Lake City. Officers will continue neighborhood patrols around the Target locations in Salt Lake City out of an abundance of caution. We encourage anyone who sees anything suspicious to immediately call 911.”
Equality Utah, for its part, characterized “LGBTQ Americans” as being under attack in a statement to 2News, saying, “Efforts to threaten, bully or frighten LGBTQ Americans and our allies will never prevail. We will not be intimidated back into the closet. In a pluralistic society we must find non-violent means to settle our political disagreements. We call on Americans from all walks of life to speak out against extremism and violence. We can and must live together in peace.”
The Utah Pride Center, on the other hand, at least condemned the bomb threat, saying, “The Utah Pride Center condemns all acts of violence, and our hearts go out to the staff and patrons at Layton’s Target today.”
Continuing, it added, “Part of the mission of our organization is to celebrate and empower the LGBTQ+ community. We strive to build not only a society without attacks on freedom of expression, but also a society that celebrates the freedom to be our full authentic selves. Pride merchandise is a fabulous way for our community and allies to express their identity and celebrate freedom from oppression. We are lucky to live in a society where everyone is free to wear the clothes they love most, and we won’t let terror threats stop that. We urge everyone in our state and in our country to find kindness and support in their hearts both for themselves and others, as well as to challenge the biases that surround and shape our perspectives, both collectively and individually.”
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