Purge Night Threat Investigated in Palm Beach County

By Kathryn Wohlpart

A social media hoax calling for a “Purge night” in relation to the newly released movie The Purge: Anarchy has been monitored in cities across the nation and the threat has come to Palm Beach County. A post calling for a Purge in Palm Beach County on September 1 is a hoax according to Boynton Beach Police.

The “Purge” in the movie is a night where all crime is legalized. Police departments across the nation have proclaimed these false “purge” postings hoaxes and inform citizens that all crime committed is illegal.

The Purge: Anarchy has a large social media marketing campaign and spin offs from the movie’s marketing have been created causing alarm in cities such as Louisville, Los Angeles, and Detroit. The Louisville scare was started by a high school student who thought it was “just a fun thing” according to an interview with People magazine.

Flyers were created and spread across Palm Beach County, stating that the county was next to have “the purge.” The Boca Raton Police Department has commented that “[they] have been aware of postings online and continue to monitor the situation” and that these postings are a hoax.