bbc.com
Racist Texts Trigger FBI Probe
Racist text messages targeting African Americans spark FBI investigation in the US.
Russian
United Kingdom
PoliticsHuman Rights ViolationsUs PoliticsGender IssuesInvestigationSocial IssuesRacismHate Speech
FbiDepartment Of JusticeTextnowNaacpTrump Campaign
Donald TrumpDerrick JohnsonLiz MurillStephen ChungHayley Welch
- How are authorities responding to the incident?
- The FBI has launched an investigation into the matter, collaborating with the Department of Justice and other federal agencies to identify the perpetrators and determine the scale of the racist text message campaign.
- What are the broader implications of this incident?
- The incident has raised concerns about the rise of hateful rhetoric and the potential for increased racial tensions. The NAACP attributed the messages to the aftermath of the election, highlighting anxieties surrounding the result and amplified racial biases.
- What are the ongoing investigations into the messages?
- Authorities in several states are conducting parallel investigations, attempting to trace the source of the messages. One investigation suggests that some messages were sent using a VPN service registered in Poland, raising the possibility of foreign involvement, though this remains unconfirmed.
- What kind of messages were sent to African Americans in the US?
- Following the US presidential election, numerous African Americans across multiple states received racist text messages instructing them to return to plantations and pick cotton.
- What is the suspected origin of the messages, and who is potentially involved?
- While some messages referenced Donald Trump's election campaign, his representatives have denied any involvement. The messages originated from various phone numbers across at least 25 states, some linked to the TextNow service and potentially routed through VPNs.