Recently, there have been reports of individuals, including children and college students, receiving racist text messages from unknown phone numbers in various states such as Maryland, New Jersey, Alabama, Michigan, and South Carolina.
The FBI has acknowledged the issue and is collaborating with the Justice Department and other federal authorities to address the situation. They have urged the public to report any threats of physical violence to local law enforcement agencies.
School board officials in Montgomery County, Maryland, have confirmed that both local law enforcement and the FBI are investigating instances of individuals, including students, receiving these offensive texts. Some law enforcement agencies have classified these messages as low-level threats.
One recipient, a Black woman residing in Piscataway, New Jersey, expressed her shock upon receiving a text informing her that she had been 'selected to pick cotton at the nearest plantation.' She highlighted the disbelief she initially felt and emphasized that such messages indicate that societal progress may not be as significant as perceived.
Similarly, a photographer from a Virginia news station received a text addressing him by name and informing him that he had been 'selected to pick cotton at the nearest plantation.' The photographer expressed concern about receiving such a message the day after the election, describing it as disappointing.
Authorities in Washington, DC, and Virginia have confirmed that they are actively investigating these racist text messages to address the issue and ensure the safety and well-being of the recipients.
