Bomb Threat Received During Drag Queen Story Hour In Princeton: Police

PRINCETON, NJ — On Saturday, a Drag Queen Story Hour was disrupted after a bomb threat was emailed to police, targeting the Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice.

Around 10:49 a.m., the Princeton Police Department received an email from an unknown person containing derogatory remarks aimed at LGBTQIA members and those affiliated with the Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice (BRCSJ), police said.

The author stated that numerous explosive devices were placed in and around the Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice.

Officers were immediately dispatched to the building and the occupants were evacuated. A canine sweep of the building and surrounding area was completed, and no explosive devices were found, police said.

Around 12:40 p.m., the occupants were allowed back into the building.

According to the BRCSJ, over 50 people, mostly families and children were in attendance for the event when the incident occurred.

Although the event was disrupted, the organizers moved the Drag Queen Story Hour offsite, while authorities investigated.

"The safe space we offer to our LGBTQIA youth, intersectional families, and all our beautifully diverse folx is not only a physical entity but indeed something we carry within our hearts and our souls. These despicable actions threatened, this dishonest bigoted rhetoric espoused, this abhorrent hate will only ever be answered by a stronger, braver, and more empowering message of love,” said Robt Martin Seda-Schreiber, Founder & Chief Activist of the BRCSJ.

Seda-Schreiber said the bomb threat did not stop the organization from gathering together.

"We want to thank all the family and community members who showed up and glowed up, our Drag Queen Carrie Dragshaw whose lack of wig was made up by far more spirit, and the Princeton Police Department who were kind and considerate as they did their due diligence to keep us all safe," Seda-Schreiber said.

Saturday’s event featured Carrie Dragshaw who hosted her first story hour.

“I think the voices of negativity can be loud, but I believe the voices of positivity are greater. A kid was wearing a shirt that said ‘We’re stronger together,’ and I really believe that,” Dragshaw said. “I’m a firm believer in not letting the negativity take over the narrative. There’s so much love and joy in the community.”

Authorities said the Detective Bureau is conducting a follow-up investigation into the case.

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