Blacks across the US received text messages saying they had been “Chosen to pick cotton” after the election

One day later presidential electionand in the following days, according to reports, black people across the country young as high school students, received text messages called them by name and told them they would be taken to plantations to work as slaves and “pick cotton.”

Although the exact language of the messages varied somewhat, most seemed to tell the recipient that they had been “chosen” or “chosen” to do cotton picking, which was the job in the past. made by slaves in the American South. Many people were told they would be picked up and searched by trucks.

The messages were allegedly received by multiple people, many of whom were Black college students, at least in 17 statesincludes Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Louisiana, Nevada, California, Ohio, South Carolina, Michigan, Georgia and Alabama. New York Times reported that the Louisiana attorney general’s office traced the messages “to an encrypted virtual private network originating in Poland.” Liz Murrill, The state’s AG, told the news outlet that because the network was “hiding” the sender, it could have come from “anywhere in the world.” FBI speak Thursday, the agency “is aware of offensive and racist text messages sent to individuals across the country and is in contact with the Department of Justice and other federal agencies regarding the matter.” this topic.”

According to Washington Post, “Some, though not all, of the messages were believed to be from a Trump supporter or ‘Trump administration,’ according to screenshots shared on social media and local news.” In a statement, a Trump campaign spokesperson said: “The campaign had absolutely nothing to do with these messages.”

There isn’t really any reason to believe that Trump’s actual campaign had anything to do with the messages, a move that would have been quite foolish. Yet even if Team Trump doesn’t press Send Message, critics of the former and current president-to-be believe he has given racists the green light to engage in racist behavior. openly racist. In a statement, NAACP president Derrick Johnson speak texts on slavery show how Trump’s victory emboldened racists and reflects a rise in “vile and disgusting rhetoric.” Arleta McCall, the mother of a University of Alabama student who received one of the messages told Parcel that thing Trump’s rhetoric during the campaign “almost created the atmosphere,” adding: “The racists, it gives them the feeling that being openly racist is which is normal because my leader, my president, goes up there and says whatever he wants.” speak.”