The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating a series of racist text messages referencing slavery sent to Black men and women. Learn more about the case and its potential legal repercussions.
Racist text messages referencing slavery caused nationwide concern this week after being sent to Black men, women, and students—even those in middle school—leading the FBI and other agencies to launch investigations.
Anonymous messages were reported across several states, including New York, Alabama, California, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Tennessee. While the wording differed slightly among them, they generally maintained a similar tone.
Some messages instructed the recipient to arrive at a specific address with their belongings, while others did not provide a location. Additionally, some referenced the incoming presidential administration.
The identity of the sender behind the messages remained unclear, and a complete list of recipients had not been compiled; however, high school and college students were among those who received them.
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The FBI stated that it was coordinating with the Justice Department regarding the messages, while the Federal Communications Commission announced its investigation into the texts “in conjunction with federal and state law enforcement.” Additionally, Ohio’s Attorney General’s office confirmed that it was examining the issue.
Fisk University, a historically Black institution located in Nashville, Tennessee, released a statement describing the messages directed at some of its students as “deeply unsettling.”
It called for calm and reassured students that the messages were most likely sent by bots or malicious individuals with “no genuine intentions or credibility.”
Missouri NAACP President Nimrod Chapel reported that Black students, who are part of the organization’s chapter at Missouri State University, received text messages referencing Trump’s victory and personally targeting them to “pick cotton” on the upcoming Tuesday.
Chapel stated that law enforcement in Springfield, a city located in southeastern Missouri and home to the university, has been informed.
