NEW ORLEANS — The FBI and Louisiana’s Attorney General Liz Murrill say they are aware and investigating after Black people in several states across the country, including Louisiana, received disturbing racist text messages calling them to return to slavery.
Since Wednesday, the messages, sent anonymously, have been reported in several states such as New York, Alabama, California, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Georgia, Maryland, and Louisiana according to the Associated Press.
The randomly sent text messages referenced slavery and implied Black people to return to “plantations” suggesting that they would be returned to slavery.
Some African Americans in Louisiana were victimized by the awful messages, which prompted Louisiana's AG Liz Murrill to request the FBI to include the state in its investigation.
"My cyber team at the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation has discovered that some of these vile & racist spam messages can be traced back to a VPN in Poland. At this time, they have found no original source - meaning they could have originated from any bad actor state in the region or the world. We will continue to investigate," said Murrill in a statement on social media.
Murrill urged anyone who received a text to contact the Attorney General’s office at (800) 351-4889.
Congressman Troy Carter (D-LA) who is the 2nd Vice Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus released a statement Friday, calling the mass text messages "vile."
“It is deeply disturbing to learn that vile, racist, and threatening messages are being directed at young African Americans across our nation, including on our college campuses. Such acts of hatred have no place in our society. They are an affront to the principles of equality, respect, and unity that form the very foundation of our democracy.
“These malicious actions, intended to spread fear and division, remind us of the work that remains in combating hate and ensuring safety and dignity for all Americans. Let it be clear: we will not be intimidated or silenced. Those who seek to sow discord will not succeed.
“We stand united against all forms of extremism, and we reaffirm our commitment to a nation where every individual is treated with respect and dignity. Together, we will confront this darkness with resilience, and we will continue to build a future rooted in justice and inclusion.”
The slavery-themed messages were reportedly sent to Black men, women, and students including some middle-school students.
As the Associated Press reports, about six middle school students in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, received the messages too, said Megan Shafer, acting superintendent of the Lower Merion School District.
“The racist nature of these text messages is extremely disturbing, made even more so by the fact that children have been targeted,” she wrote in a letter to parents.
Students at some major universities, including Clemson in South Carolina and the University of Alabama, said they received the messages.
The Federal Communications Commission says it is also investigating the incident.
*The Associated Press contributed to this story*
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