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Following the U.S. presidential election, authorities across the country are investigating a surge of racist text messages targeting Black individuals, including children, college students, and working professionals. The messages, some of which make references to “slave catchers” and “picking cotton,” evoke painful images of America’s racist past and have been condemned by officials in multiple states.
The messages, received by individuals in at least 20 states and Washington, D.C., instructed recipients to “report to the nearest plantation” and included specific dates and times. Some texts also referenced being picked up in vans and included recipients’ names or locations, according to CBS News, which reviewed several screenshots. The texts, originating from unrecognized numbers, were sent just hours after election results were announced.
In one case, Atlanta-based publicist Monèt Miller received a message from an unknown number on Wednesday morning, instructing her to “prepare to be searched down” upon arrival at the “plantation.” Miller, who was already disheartened by the election results, described the text as shocking and disturbing.
The FBI has acknowledged the messages and stated that it is working with the Justice Department and other federal agencies to investigate. NAACP President Derrick Johnson called the messages a disturbing example of “vile and abhorrent rhetoric.”
States across the country, including Georgia, Virginia, and New York, have condemned the messages. Virginia’s Attorney General urged those who feel threatened by the texts to contact local law enforcement, while New York Attorney General Letitia James described the texts as “disgusting and unacceptable” and encouraged recipients to report them to her office.
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill said in a video posted to social media that investigators in her state are looking into racist texts and emails and believe that the emails and some texts came from a VPN that originated in Poland.
In a statement, TextNow, a Canadian based company that allows users to create free phone numbers, confirmed it had blocked the accounts associated with the messages. Telling CNN it is what they, “believe… is a widespread, coordinated attack.” and that they are, “working alongside our industry partners to uncover more details and continue to monitor patterns to actively block any new accounts attempting to send these messages.”
Some of the messages also targeted students at schools and universities, with institutions like Clemson University, the University of Alabama, and Ohio State University reporting that their students received similar texts. The Lower Merion School District in Pennsylvania notified parents that middle schoolers had received racist messages, though it did not disclose specifics.
As the investigation continues, authorities are urging anyone who receives similar messages to report them to the FBI and local law enforcement.
