Authorities across the U.S. are investigating after racist text messages -- some with references to "slave catchers" and "picking cotton" reminiscent of the nation's painful past -- have been received by children, college students and working professionals from unrecognized phone numbers in the wake of the presidential election.

Washington

The FBI has initiated investigations following the spread of anonymous racist text messages across the United States. These messages, which included references to "slave catchers" and "picking cotton," were reportedly sent to individuals including children, college students, and professionals, from unknown numbers. Authorities are actively working to uncover the origins of these messages and to hold accountable the parties responsible. 

The hate-filled messages have prompted strong condemnation from attorneys general nationwide, who are committed to identifying the perpetrators. A messaging application, TextNow, reported to CNN that certain accounts on their platform were likely involved in breaching their terms of service by disseminating these messages. Upon identification, the accounts were swiftly deactivated. Efforts are ongoing to prevent any recurrence of such behavior.

In response to the incident, Caroline Levitt, a spokesperson for Donald Trump, clarified that the presidential campaign was not involved with the messages. Despite speculations linking the timing of the texts to the presidential election, Trump’s campaign has distanced itself from the allegations. The situation has sparked outrage, as it appears to reignite painful historical connotations of slavery and racism in the U.S.



FBI investigating racist text messages received across U.S.

You have been selected to go to the plantation and pick cotton said that he would be picked up in a brown van By executive slaves, you'll be dropped out of school and become a full-time cotton picker making 75 cents an hour Sounds good. She had a plantation litter and a plantation number Authorities are investigating after racist text messages were anonymously sent to black children College students and other adults across the u.s. They should not be seen to any student black brown blue purple Yellow, whatever. I am one of Donald Trump's associate in your cotton picking centers are from 6 a.m. To 8 p.m. I was scared That I was gonna get picked up and out of school and have to do cotton picking make head play pick cotton and slavery I just reassured him. This is not true It's probably you know a hoax and just told him you can be whatever you want to be you're not gonna we're not returning to slavery attorneys general from coast to coast are condemning the hate-filled rhetoric and Promising to find out who's behind the disturbing messages. It makes me angry Like over over angry text now a free messaging app revealed in an email to CNN that the company Quote uncovered that one or more of our accounts may have been used to send text messages in Violation of our terms of service Text now added that as soon as we became aware our trust and safety team acted quickly Rapidly disabling the related accounts in less than an hour CNN has reached out to the Federal Communications Commission the fact that it happened the day after you know election day It really speaks to what I think is going on here Caroline Levitt a spokesperson for Donald Trump said the presidential campaign had absolutely nothing to do with these text messages you

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