Several Target stores in Oklahoma City were evacuated Saturday after bomb threats sent threatening emails to local media stations and municipal agencies.
The Oklahoma City Police Department confirmed the emails, saying the messages contained threats about three bombs hidden in different stores and that police would have to work out which of the locations were the correct ones.
At least two stores were then evacuated shortly after 5pm on Saturday, just after police were alerted to the threatening emails.
Police notified Target managers of the threat, but left it up to them to decide whether or not to evacuate.
Police have yet to confirm a motive, but several similar threats have been made across the country in response to the retailer’s decision to remove or relocate the store’s Pride Month collection.
In Oklahoma, a bomb call was alerted to the threats but never deployed.
A spokesperson for Target said of the weekend incident: “TThe safety of our team members and guests is our top priority. Law enforcement today investigated claims related to several stores in the Oklahoma City area and determined that those stores are safe. Our stores are currently open and have normal opening hours.’
Police described the initial threats as “vague,” though Sergeant Rob Robertson of the Oklahoma City Police Department said, “Whether it’s a hoax or not, we have to take it seriously.”
KFOR television reported receiving the threatening email, which began with the text, “We’re going to play a game.”
The email then referenced the date April 19, 1995 – the date of the Oklahoma City bombing.
The threat went on to say that two of the Target locations contained bombs.
“We have hidden the bombs in some product items. The bombs will explode in a few hours, guess which ones have the bombs. Time is ticking on,’ de channel reported the note says.
Target is one of many major corporate brands facing backlash for promoting LGBTQ-friendly items during Pride Month.
Some consumers became especially distraught when they saw Target’s extensive Pride line, which included children’s clothing, as well as garments that appeared to be for women but were advertised as having room for “tuck-in,” in case the buyer was male. possessed genitals.
Following backlash, Target’s CEO announced it would pull some of the more controversial items from its shelves. Shown here is an adult Pride bikini, which is still available on the website
A controversial part of the store’s pride line were bathing suits advertised as having “extra crotch coverage” and room for “tucking in.” The design is ostensibly aimed at individuals with male genitals who want swimsuits designed for women
Following the backlash, some customers opposed to the line filmed themselves attacking LGBTQ Pride displays and confronting employees at Target stores in late May.
The company then held an emergency meeting and decided to downsize and relocate some Pride merchandise so that it is less visible in stores.
“Our focus is now on moving forward with our continued commitment to the LGBTQIA+ community and supporting them as we celebrate Pride Month and throughout the year,” Target said at the time.
CEO Brian Cornell also released a statement saying the company pulled several items that were “at the center of the most confrontational behavior.”
“Since the introduction of this year’s collection, we have faced threats that affect our team members’ sense of safety and well-being at work,” the company said in a statement.
“Given these unstable conditions, we are adjusting our plans, including removing items that were central to the most significant confrontational behavior.”
Employees reported being given 36 hours to “move all of our Pride stuff, the whole section, into a section that’s a third the size.” From the front of the store to the back of the store, you can’t have anything on mannequins and no large signage,” Fox said.
The move came as Target lost $14 billion in market cap in two weeks and the stock was cut by JPMorgan.
However, following Target’s decision to shrink its Pride displays, more than 200 LGBTQ groups and progressive organizations signed a statement, arguing that showing support to the community is good for business.
The statement, released last week, asked the retail giant and other companies, including Bud Light brewer Anheuser-Bush, to “reject and speak out against anti-LGBTQ+ extremism during Pride Month.”
Some target workers report being given 36 hours to massively downsize pride collections in stores as backlash against the aggressive pride line began to catch wind
Pride Month merchandise goes on display at a Target store on Wednesday, May 24, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. In the south in particular, the company has been forced to call back some of its pride displays
The letter added: ‘When it comes to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion, there is no such thing as neutrality.’
It claims those who support the continued boycott are “extremists.”
“Their goal is clear: to prevent LGBTQ+ inclusion and representation, to silence our allies and to make our community invisible,” the groups argue.
“These attacks fuel hatred against LGBTQ+ people, as we have seen this year with more than 500 anti-LGBTQ+ bills curtailing basic freedoms and aiming to erase LGBTQ+ people.”
The coalition also suggested it would continue to support Target and any other company that rejects criticism.
“Target, and all companies, can use the support of LGBTQ+ organizations to navigate this hatred, so that together we can let extremists know unequivocally that, as with every failed anti-LGBTQ+ campaign of the past, fear will not to win.’