GPD finds no threat against African American churches

Press release from Gainesville Police Department

On November 5, 2020, the Gainesville Police Department (GPD) was made aware of emails circulating within African American churches throughout Gainesville. The emails alleged a warning from the NAACP that white supremacists were coming to the area to kidnap black men and hang them.

GPD immediately conferred with federal authorities, including the FBI, and confirmed that the threat and the emails are not authentic. An email with the exact same threat was circulated throughout the African American community in Atlanta several months ago. The NAACP has disavowed the threat.

GPD takes any threats such as these extremely seriously and will continue to partner with local and federal law enforcement agencies to protect and serve our neighbors in the Gainesville community.