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Racist text message targeting Blacks to 'pick cotton'
People of color across the country have reported alarming texts with heavy offensive racial tones. Several law enforcement agencies across the metro say they are aware and are on alert.
ATLANTA - Multiple Georgia residents contacted FOX 5 Atlanta after receiving an alarming text message about upcoming enslavement or being informed about a potential threat from white supremacists and KKK members.
"Greetings, David. You've been selected to pick cotton at the nearest plantation in Atlanta. Be ready at 12 am sharp with your belongings," David Williams read.
David Williams was one of many who received an alarming text message after the election.
"Master Ben asked us to send out this text message. Please be ready and we won't be whipped'. I replied back and said 'well you better tell Ben I'm not my ancestors. I whip and shoot back," Williams said.
Williams is playing no games with the messages.
"I was kind of floored, flabbergasted," Williams said.
Williams says he did a search for the number but did not have any luck.
Several law enforcement agencies, including Atlanta police, say they are aware of the messages circulating.
"I was scared, and I didn't know what was going to happen. It was weird because it was out of nowhere," a teen girl said.
The 14-year-old does not want to be named, but she also received an alarming message.
She quickly sent it to her mom, who alerted the Rockdale County Sherriff's Office and the county school district.
"It was shocking to me because with it being 2024 and still hearing things like that. It was just heartbreaking to see someone would send a child something like that," The teen's mother said.
Many want to know just who exactly is responsible. At this time, that question remains unanswered.
There appear to be various versions of the message about the upcoming enslavement – with different times and dates, locations, and signatures. But, the meaning of the message remains the same.
"It has to be someone or a team of people sending these messages out. I would love to see whoever is doing this or entity making this happen prosecuted, brought to justice. Whatever," Williams said.
However, Georgia residents are not alone in receiving these messages.
According to 13 News Now in Norfolk, Virginia, numerous individuals in Virginia have received similar messages. Additionally, Black college students at the University of Alabama and Clemson University in South Carolina have reported receiving these messages, according to Sportskeeda.com.
The University of Alabama has reportedly opened an investigation into the text messages.
FOX 5 Atlanta reached out to the GBI and other local law enforcement for additional information. At this time, the GBI says they were not aware of the text messages.
The FBI released a statement on Thursday evening:
"The FBI is aware of the offensive and racist text messages sent to individuals around the country and is in contact with the Justice Department and other federal authorities on the matter.
"As always, we encourage members of the public to report threats of physical violence to local law enforcement authorities."
At this time, it is unknown who is sending the text messages or why they are doing it.
Some users on Reddit.com believe that Russia may be behind the text messages in an effort to turn American citizens against each other and divide the country.
Officials in multiple states, including Georgia, blamed Russia for multiple bomb threats received at polling stations on Election Day.
Warning sent prior to election
The warning about white supremacists and KKK members reportedly began circulating the day before the presidential election.
That message reads:
Several local law enforcement agencies became aware of the message and have since posted messages of reassurance for their communities on social media.
According to Reuters, this message is not new; it has circulated on social media previously.
The same message appeared online in January 2021. At that time, the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office issued a statement saying they were aware of the message, noting that the "communications" did not represent official intel or briefings from their office. The sheriff's office also stated they were working with local, state, and federal agencies regarding potential extremist or riotous activity but could not substantiate any threats as described in the circulating messages.
The sheriff's office released a new statement on Nov. 2, advising residents they had not received any credible information indicating threats to any group on or after election day.