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Some Black Americans grabbed their phones to check a text and were met with racism.A man who wanted to remain anonymous told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4: “This is an invasion of privacy. For someone to send this text message to me and other young Black voters shortly after the results of the election, it is not hard to see what the implications of this election will have on society.”Will Anderson of the Black Political Empowerment Project said this is not a political issue.”This is not if you’re a Democrat or a Republican. This is an American issue. This is an issue that the United States needs to deal with, and that the law enforcement need to investigate and get to the bottom of, and we demand that these people be held accountable and be prosecuted as hate crimes,” Anderson said.The FBI says it is in contact with the Justice Department. The Office of the Attorney General says the messages serve no purpose but to spread hate.The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission is also aware of the messages. They say it’s a trend impacting students in the commonwealth. They say Black students in school districts got the messages. Those messages stated that they were “selected to pick cotton at the nearest plantation.”The PHRC said the texts can cause mental and physical harm to students.Anderson says he is concerned about his daughter in college.”When she sees these type of things, when she’s trying to move forward and trying to not be reminded of what her ancestors went through, and not just being be reminded of it, but having it looking like a reality,” Anderson said.The NAACP Pittsburgh branch sent a statement saying, in part: “Such rhetoric perpetuates a legacy of oppression and exclusion that reaches back to Jim Crow, targeting the fundamental rights of Black Americans to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”You can read their full statement by clicking here.The Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh issued the following statement:”The Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh is deeply disturbed by the recent circulation of racist texts threatening to enslave Black Americans. These messages, spread both locally and across the nation, are a stark reminder of an ugly history—a history where Black people were tortured, threatened, and killed simply for existing. We vehemently condemn these threats and demand that those responsible be held fully accountable.”Black Americans are Americans, deserving of true freedom and dignity. At the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh, civil rights are at the heart of everything we do. We stand committed to ensuring that Black people have the opportunity to live freely and thrive, just like any other citizen of this country. The National Urban League is committed to the same mission of advancing civil rights and economic empowerment for Black Americans.”These racist sentiments are a reflection of our nation’s current political climate, where hateful rhetoric and intimidation have become increasingly normalized. As Black people, we continue to fight for the freedom that has yet to be fully realized. We demand change, and we will not rest until Black Americans feel safe, respected, and free in this country.”
Some Black Americans grabbed their phones to check a text and were met with racism.
A man who wanted to remain anonymous told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4: “This is an invasion of privacy. For someone to send this text message to me and other young Black voters shortly after the results of the election, it is not hard to see what the implications of this election will have on society.”
Will Anderson of the Black Political Empowerment Project said this is not a political issue.
“This is not if you’re a Democrat or a Republican. This is an American issue. This is an issue that the United States needs to deal with, and that the law enforcement need to investigate and get to the bottom of, and we demand that these people be held accountable and be prosecuted as hate crimes,” Anderson said.
The FBI says it is in contact with the Justice Department. The Office of the Attorney General says the messages serve no purpose but to spread hate.
The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission is also aware of the messages. They say it’s a trend impacting students in the commonwealth.
They say Black students in school districts got the messages. Those messages stated that they were “selected to pick cotton at the nearest plantation.”
The PHRC said the texts can cause mental and physical harm to students.
Anderson says he is concerned about his daughter in college.
“When she sees these type of things, when she’s trying to move forward and trying to not be reminded of what her ancestors went through, and not just being be reminded of it, but having it looking like a reality,” Anderson said.
The NAACP Pittsburgh branch sent a statement saying, in part: “Such rhetoric perpetuates a legacy of oppression and exclusion that reaches back to Jim Crow, targeting the fundamental rights of Black Americans to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
You can read their full statement by clicking here.
The Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh issued the following statement:
“The Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh is deeply disturbed by the recent circulation of racist texts threatening to enslave Black Americans. These messages, spread both locally and across the nation, are a stark reminder of an ugly history—a history where Black people were tortured, threatened, and killed simply for existing. We vehemently condemn these threats and demand that those responsible be held fully accountable.
“Black Americans are Americans, deserving of true freedom and dignity. At the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh, civil rights are at the heart of everything we do. We stand committed to ensuring that Black people have the opportunity to live freely and thrive, just like any other citizen of this country. The National Urban League is committed to the same mission of advancing civil rights and economic empowerment for Black Americans.
“These racist sentiments are a reflection of our nation’s current political climate, where hateful rhetoric and intimidation have become increasingly normalized. As Black people, we continue to fight for the freedom that has yet to be fully realized. We demand change, and we will not rest until Black Americans feel safe, respected, and free in this country.”
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