STATEMENT: Coalition responds to second UMass lockdown of the school year

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

9/12/25

Another Lockdown on a UMass Campus Highlights Ongoing Threat of Gun Violence

Massachusetts is not immune from the trauma of America’s gun violence epidemic

BOSTON, MA - Yesterday afternoon, the University of Massachusetts Boston was the site of another terrifying campus lockdown. Following reports of shots fired near the East Residence Hall, law enforcement - including a SWAT team - responded, ordering students and staff to shelter in place, lock their doors, and remain silent unless approached by police. Students were later evacuated with their hands in the air, unsure of whether they were in the midst of yet another school shooting in the United States. Fortunately, no physical injuries were reported. However, the emotional and psychological trauma of such incidents can be deep and long-lasting. 

This incident follows a similar event just last week at UMass Lowell, where a reported firearm threat led to a campus lockdown. Two universities within the UMass system have now begun their academic year under the shadow of potential gun violence.

We cannot accept this as normal. No student should start their school year fearing for their life. Our young people deserve to feel safe. All of us deserve to feel safe. Tragically, the constant threat of gun violence in this country is destroying that sense of safety, leaving our young people traumatized and our communities shaken.

As adults and members of a shared society, we have a moral obligation to act. We must build a future where lockdowns, active shooter drills, and emergency alerts are not part of the daily student experience. The Coalition is committed to building a future where every one of us - in every community - is free from the threat and trauma of gun violence.