Portland Public Schools: Message On Threats Being Made On Social Media

Portland OR

17 December, 2021

1:19 AM

Description

Press release from Portland Public Schools: December 16, 2021 Dear PPS Students and Families, We want to make you aware of an unfortunate trend on social media of anonymous threats of violence being made against schools around the country, such as the one circulating on TikTok for Friday, December 17. This week in PPS, we have investigated numerous rumored threats of violence on our campuses made via social media. The safety and well-being of our students is our highest priority and we are committed to providing a secure campus for their learning.  Please know that we take every threat seriously and initiate our response protocols that include notifying the Portland Police Bureau and investigating the source of the rumor or social media threat.  Making a threat of violence, even on social media, is a criminal act. Threats have risen after the school shooting last month in Oxford, Michigan. These threats have been, for the most part, hoaxes, but they create fear and anxiety, and they can far too easily disrupt the education that all students are entitled to. These are not victimless acts. We ask your help in curbing this trend. If you are a parent or guardian, please speak to your student about the harmful nature of making or reposting threats via social media. If you are a student and see a threat on social media, please immediately report it to a teacher or trusted adult, do not share or repost it. We know it's difficult when these rumors and social media threats follow a real tragedy like the one in Michigan. If you witness an unsafe incident, please call 9-1-1 and provide as much information as possible. If you have non-emergency information, please contact the Portland Police non-emergency line at 503-823-3333. And, you can also always report concerning behaviors to the Safe Oregon tip line via text or call: 844-472-3367; email: [email protected]; or download the Safe Oregon app. Trained staff are available to respond 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.  Thank you for your assistance and support in keeping our schools free of fear and disruption. PPS Principals and Leaders   This press release was produced by Portland Public Schools. The views expressed here are the author's own.