Target stores in multiple states faced bomb threats in response to the retailer’s latest decision regarding their “Pride” collection as one email remarked, “we won’t go quietly.”
(Video: WOIO)
Friday, retail locations in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Utah became the focus of the backlash faced by the corporation while attempting to have it both ways in promoting transgenderism and gender ideology. Impacting at least nine locations across the three states, bomb threats were reported forcing some to briefly evacuate.
As WOIO reported, their news team had received an email at 12:26 p.m. that appeared to have been sent to the team of Tim Pool’s podcast. Within, it reportedly contained the addresses for Target stores in Boardman, Niles, North Canton and Stow, Ohio along with one in Monaca, Pennsylvania alleging bombs were placed in each.
“Target is full of…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,” the email stated. “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.”
“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,” it concluded.
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Image: WOIO
Local law enforcement and the FBI were alerted to the threats which proved to be hoaxes, as KUTV reported a similar story out of Utah.
After threats had been made to retail locations in Layton, Provo, Salt Lake City and Taylorsville, Sgt. John Ottessen of the Layton Police explained the threats had come from a “bogus email address.”
A statement from the Salt Lake City Police detailed, “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.”
Ottessen noted that prosecutors may seek subpoenas to aid in identifying the source of the threats and, in the case of the Ohio hoaxes, WOIO noted that a law signed by Gov. Mike DeWine (R) in January that went into effect April 3 now makes swatting a fourth-degree felony.
Outside the North Canton location, WOIO spoke with customers who shared mixed opinions on Target carrying “Pride” merchandise, but none supported a violent response to the line.
“I know a lot of people around here are not a fan of LGBT — that kind of stuff — me personally, I mean it’s whatever,” said Quinlan Shell. “I never thought someone would go as far as a bomb threat, especially here.”
“If you’re willing to make a bomb threat you’re just a dangerous person overall who shouldn’t really be free in my sense, you could hurt someone,” she added.
While the identity or identities of those responsible for the hoaxes remained unknown, many jumped at the opportunity to blame conservatives despite the individual expressing solidarity with transgenderism.
Bomb threats directed at Target for putting lgbt stuff in their stores.
Being gay isn’t the crisis that is threatening america, it’s these terrorist mfers. pic.twitter.com/Jtlznf2NmU
— MaceAhWindu (@MaceAhWindu) May 27, 2023
Target’s nationwide received bomb threats yesterday. I really want to know how soccer moms picking up groceries feel about Republican politicians and conservative media outlets attacking a store to a point the customers and employees have to worry about being killed by a bomb.
— Bren Danflashes (@sheepsleepdeep) May 27, 2023
Homophobic lunatics are now calling in bomb threats to Target because they got triggered by a rainbow
Again, please explain to me how threatening death over a T-shirt is better than letting people just live their lives to love each other#ProudAlly #Pride2023 #TargetPride
— Tara Dublin ((isn’t paying for this)) (@taradublinrocks) May 27, 2023
Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
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