'Black Men Uniting' event at Seattle school officially canceled after threats, but group shows up to welcome kids

SEATTLE -- Seattle Public Schools said Thursday it had canceled a "Black Men United to Change the Narrative" event planned for Friday at John Muir Elementary School after threats were posted online and one threatening phone call was received.

Seattle Public Schools officially canceled the celebration and added extra security at John Muir Elementary School after receiving several threats in the days leading up to the event.

But that didn't stop the community from showing up Friday morning to welcome students to school with smiles, cheering and high fives.



Many of the men said there's a bigger conversation we can all have about race in America. But today is about showing every kid that there are people who care.

“I just believe that supporting our kids is the number one thing we can do not only as people but as men especially black men," said community volunteer Stober Matthew Davis III.

“We are coming together not only the black community but the whole community,” said pastor Kenneth Ransfer.

Some teachers wore Black Lives Matter shirts.

According to The Seattle Times, under the planned event, more than 100 black male volunteers were to gather outside and greet students as they walked into the building.  The event was held at another Seattle school last year. But the threats to Muir Elementary apparently came after several news outlets reported that some teachers had planned to wear T-shirts that featured the school’s name along with “We Stand Together” and “Black Lives Matter.”

The Seattle Police Department said it was investigating the threats and said there would be a "visible presence" of officers  at the school.