Racist Text Messages Target Black Individuals Nationwide, Prompting Federal Investigation

Authorities are probing the origins of offensive texts sent to Black Americans after the election, raising concerns about racial intimidation.

The FBI, FCC, and state agencies are investigating racist texts sent to Black individuals across over 20 states, including students at HBCUs.
The messages, referencing slavery, were sent anonymously using technology to obscure the sender's location, complicating the investigation.
TextNow, a service implicated in sending the texts, has disabled related accounts and is cooperating with law enforcement efforts.
The texts have caused significant distress among recipients, particularly children and students, leading to calls for accountability.
Authorities are urging those who received the texts to report them, as the investigation seeks to identify and hold the perpetrators accountable.