“Report to nearest cotton plantation”: Racially offensive messages target black Americans, students across 20+ states
In the days following the U.S. election, black people and students across more than 20 states received anonymous, racially offensive messages that referenced past enslavement.
The messages shockingly instructed recipients to report to the “nearest plantation,” a deeply offensive nod to America’s history of slavery.
One of the messages read, “Greetings !You have been selected to pick cotton at the nearest plantation. PLEASE be ready by 12am November 15, 2024! NO EXCEPTIONS !! Bring all of your belongings Our Executive Slaves Will Be There By 11:45pm To Pick You Up In A Large Brown Van, Be Prepared To Get Searched & Patted Down Once Inside Of The Plantation! You will be housed in plantation A 1st Cabin To Your Right!-Thank You.”
In response to the incidents, the FBI and the U.S. Justice Department launched a formal investigation. They are collaborating closely with major phone carriers, including AT&T and Verizon, and messaging application providers such as TextNow to identify the source of these messages and track down those responsible for this racially charged harassment.
Responding to the situation, Trump campaign spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt issued a statement on Friday, emphasizing, “President Trump’s campaign has absolutely nothing to do with these text messages.” The statement aimed to distance the campaign from the inflammatory messages and any association with the individuals behind them.
