Fed investigates racist texts sent across the U.S. after election

Days after Donald Trump was elected to a second term as president, people across the country received racist text messages that are now being investigated by federal authorities.

The NAACP says, “In multiple states, including Alabama, North Carolina, Virginia, and Pennsylvania, Black women, men, and students have reportedly received racist text messages from unknown sources urging them to go to plantations to pick cotton.” I am reporting it.” press release. The messages included messages such as “You have been chosen to be a house slave” or “You have been chosen to pick cotton at the nearest plantation.” screenshot and news coverage. They also often instruct recipients where to go and when to be ready to “grab all your belongings.”

CBS News Messages were sent from area codes in at least 25 states, but by Thursday several state area codes were reporting disconnections. CBS We found an active account linked to TextNow that allows users to create a free phone number. TextNow told CBS that it had “been made aware that one or more of our accounts may have been used to send text messages in violation of our terms of service” and closed the accounts.

Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said in a statement that the messages were “unacceptable” and that the agency’s Office of Enforcement was already investigating. “We take this type of targeting very seriously,” she says. Federal Bureau of Investigation said before The agency is “in contact with the Department of Justice and other federal authorities regarding this matter” and encouraged the public to report threats of violence to local law enforcement.