bbc.com
Racist Texts Target Black Americans
Racist text messages targeting Black Americans across the US prompt an FBI investigation, with authorities exploring the possibility of foreign involvement.
English
United Kingdom
PoliticsHuman Rights ViolationsUs PoliticsTechnologyGender IssuesInvestigationRacismHate Crime
FbiJustice DepartmentTrump CampaignNaacpFederal Communications Commission (Fcc)
Steven CheungDerrick JohnsonJessica RosenworcelLiz Murrill
- Where were the messages sent?
- The messages varied but generally instructed recipients to report to a plantation, wait for pickup in a van, and referred to slave labor. Investigations are underway to trace the origin of the messages.
- What prompted the FBI investigation?
- Racist text messages were sent to Black Americans across the US, instructing them to report to a plantation to pick cotton. The FBI and other federal agencies are investigating.
- What was the content of the messages?
- Recipients included students in states like Alabama, North Carolina, Virginia, New York, and Pennsylvania. One mother in Indiana described the messages as "extremely alarming" and expressed fear for her daughter's safety.
- Who are the main targets of these messages?
- The messages, which started the day after the 2022 midterm elections, mentioned the Trump campaign, which denied any involvement. The source and total number of messages remain unclear.
- What are the authorities doing to investigate the messages?
- Authorities are exploring the possibility that the messages originated from a virtual private network (VPN) based in Poland, but that does not lessen the threat or harm inflicted. The NAACP and the FCC are also involved in the investigation.