Racist text messages referencing slavery raise alarms...

[Tennesseer]

Not funny no matter who sent them. Let's see what the investigations uncover.

Racist text messages referencing slavery raise alarms in multiple states and prompt investigations

WASHINGTON (AP) — Racist text messages invoking slavery raised alarm across the country this week after they were sent to Black men, women and students, including middle schoolers, prompting inquiries by the FBI and other agencies.

The messages, sent anonymously, were reported in several states, including New York, Alabama, California, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Tennessee. They generally used a similar tone but varied in wording.

Some instructed the recipient to show up at an address at a particular time “with your belongings,” while others didn’t include a location. Some of them mentioned the incoming presidential administration.

It wasn’t yet clear who was behind the messages and there was no comprehensive list of where they were sent, but high school and college students were among the recipients.

The FBI said it was in touch with the Justice Department on the messages, and the Federal Communications Commission said it was investigating the texts “alongside federal and state law enforcement.” The Ohio Attorney General’s office also said it was looking into the matter.

Tasha Dunham of Lodi, California, said her 16-year-old daughter showed her one of the messages Wednesday evening before her basketball practice.

The text not only used her daughter’s name, but it directed her to report to a “plantation” in North Carolina, where Dunham said they’ve never lived. When they looked up the address, it was the location of a museum.

“It was very disturbing,” Dunham said. “Everybody’s just trying to figure out what does this all mean for me? So, I definitely had a lot of fear and concern.”

Her daughter initially thought it was a prank, but emotions are high following Tuesday’s presidential election. Dunham and her family thought it could be more nefarious and reported it to local law enforcement.

“I wasn’t in slavery. My mother wasn’t in slavery. But we’re a couple of generations away. So, when you think about how brutal and awful slavery was for our people, it’s awful and concerning,” Dunham said.

Rest of article here: Racist text messages referencing slavery raise alarms in multiple states and prompt investigations

[pulmonarymd]

Just more of Trumps fine people who he courted to win the election

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

Well people like Sgal voted for Trump so they could say whatever they wanted and not be accused of being racist.  Guess she got her wish.

[grumpyhermit]

Gee, who ever could have predicted this totally predictable outcome.

[Pink Cashmere]

I know someone who got one of those messages.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

Nov 8, 2024 12:10:14 GMT -5 Pink Cashmere said:

I know someone who got one of those messages.

[Tiny]

The senders were just kidding.  It was a joke.  Some people just can't take a joke. 

(that's sarcasm) 
(and anger - because a lot of Americans are snickering and laughing when they read that news.)  

[busymom]

That's just sick.  I got word that just before the election this week, there were young males in my old neighborhood in FL driving around with Trump flags and yelling the "n" word at every African American they saw.  Welcome to Trumpworld.  Where do I get off?  

[moon/Laura]

This kind of shit is why I said we now live in a shithole country. I wish they'd all go inhabit a sinking island far, far away from everyone else.

[Pink Cashmere]

I was at work when I made that drive by post here earlier. Someone I use to work with got that message as a text on her phone, with her first name and last initial in it. She screenshot it and posted it on FB, which is where I saw it yesterday. She’s not the kind of person to just make things up or try to stir up shit. She hasn’t even posted anything on her page about the election at all. So assholes really are doing that shit.

[raeoflyte]

I have no coherent words to express myself.

I hate the assholes that sent them. But I hate the assholes who dismiss them almost more.

[Pink Cashmere]

[Tennesseer]

Disgusting.

[raeoflyte]

Nov 8, 2024 21:23:39 GMT -5 Pink Cashmere said:

That's awful.

[grumpyhermit]

And they will dismiss it as "a few fringe actors", but it's not. It is a rot at the very core of this country.

I will never understand the psychology of those that joy out of inflicting pain. I truly don't know how we are expected to find a path forward with folks who do shit like this.

[daisylu]

Even faced with the evidence many people in my county are claiming "fake news". 

[moon/Laura]

That's the kind of text that probably needs to be reported to the police, not that I think they'd do anything about it. Absolutely disgusting.

[pulmonarymd]

Nov 9, 2024 7:16:59 GMT -5 daisylu said:

Even faced with the evidence many people in my county are claiming "fake news". 

Which is why they need to be affected by the policies they want. That is the only way any of this changes

[Tennesseer]

A former co-worker cheered and praised on Facebook the huge tsunami red wave sweeping the U.S. with the election of trump.  

What the co-worker fails to realize is in real life, tsunami waves have zero interest in the politics of the people they destroy.

[greenthumb59]

Geez - disgusting!  

[thyme4change]

Those texts are the worst.

I also am pretty pissed about “your body, my choice” - why not just say “Rape is legal again - woo hoo” 🤮

[happyhoix]

Nov 9, 2024 10:12:21 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

Those texts are the worst.

I also am pretty pissed about “your body, my choice” - why not just say “Rape is legal again - woo hoo” 🤮

Yeah, I heard that’s popular among some of the males on college campuses right now. 

When I went to college the young men were all trying to get in good with the women, hoping for some romance. I guess now they’re planning to just take what they want. I don’t think the young women are going to put up with that shit. 

[happyhoix]

Nov 9, 2024 9:58:57 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

A former co-worker cheered and praised on Facebook the huge tsunami red wave sweeping the U.S. with the election of trump.  

What the co-worker fails to realize is in real life, tsunami waves have zero interest in the politics of the people they destroy.

That’s the thing - there is no red wave of enthusiastic Trump supporters. There are some MAGA supporters who would cheer if he shot people on fifth avenue, and then the other half of the voters that elected him are only voting for their wallets. 

I saw where in every first world country that had an election this year, the incumbents lost. Germany has blown up, politically. People want change, and Trump is a good enough liar he convinced voters he would make it rain money and we would all get rich. 

The MAGA politicians are going to try to ram through a lot of unpopular things thinking they have a lot of voter support. They don’t. The next four years will be interesting.

[daisylu]

Nov 9, 2024 10:44:13 GMT -5 happyhoix said:

Nov 9, 2024 10:12:21 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

Those texts are the worst.

I also am pretty pissed about “your body, my choice” - why not just say “Rape is legal again - woo hoo” 🤮

Yeah, I heard that’s popular among some of the males on college campuses right now. 

When I went to college the young men were all trying to get in good with the women, hoping for some romance. I guess now they’re planning to just take what they want. I don’t think the young women are going to put up with that shit. 

DD is just beyond college, but has carried pepper spray and a taser for 5 years now. She is not afraid to use either. Plus she is about 4ft 6 and knows how to hurt a guy where it hurts if those things aren't in reach/taken away - both hang on a breakaway chain around her neck.

[scgal]

Nov 8, 2024 11:42:00 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

Well people like Sgal voted for Trump so they could say whatever they wanted and not be accused of being racist.  Guess she got her wish.

I am glad he beat Harris, but I did not vote for him

[moon/Laura]

Nov 11, 2024 7:21:36 GMT -5 scgal said:

Nov 8, 2024 11:42:00 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

Well people like Sgal voted for Trump so they could say whatever they wanted and not be accused of being racist.  Guess she got her wish.

I am glad he beat Harris, but I did not vote for him

It doesn't matter that you didn't vote for him. You've made it abundantly clear that you're ok with everything he and his buddies say or do. That includes the racism that people have been displaying more and more of since he took office and started saying despicable things himself. People model what he does and that's fine by you because somehow that's better than a Black woman who is a decent human being.

[tractor]

I started to post a reply but told myself it was better to delete it than sink to their level. Why can't we just move past the generational hate? I'm ashamed of what America has become.

[grumpyhermit]

Nov 11, 2024 10:49:41 GMT -5 tractor said:

I started to post a reply but told myself it was better to delete it than sink to their level. Why can't we just move past the generational hate? I'm ashamed of what America has become.

Because we have never truly reckoned with it.

Not sure how you identify, but I am white, and my god is it easy to just not see things if you don't want to. Even allies often fall far short. I have spent a good part of the last few years trying to listen to marginalized voices, and do just  that...LISTEN. Even as someone who considers themselves very liberal, the reflexive urge to "not all white people" is very strong.

You can't deal with a problem if you refuse to even see it.

[pulmonarymd]

I think there is a difference between knowing that things are not good, wanting them to be better, and still not understanding it fully, versus denying it is a even a problem, or even worse, making racist and sexist statements as we are seeing nw. Those of us in the first group are voting for policies to improve things, and trying to be better. Nobody is perfect.

I think about how I thought and acted in the past, and know that I have changed for the better. I see things I didn't before, and hope to continue to be better. Trying to be better is all anyone can ask. Frustrating for those affected, and things never change fast enough, but it is where we are.

[busymom]

There is a big difference between people who are trying to build up & improve our country, and people who just want to burn things down.  Sadly, the wrong side won this time.  I can't help but wonder what the history books will say about this decade.