Racist Text Spam Sent In VA, Attorney General Condemns Messages: Reports

VIRGINIA — Authorities across the country are investigating after residents of the District of Columbia, Virginia and several other states reported receiving racist spam text messages referencing slavery, according to multiple reports citing authorities and social media posts.

Some of the texts address the recipients by first and last name. Many are targeting Black Americans directly.

According to one of the messages sent to a photographer at WVEC in Norfolk, the receiver is told to gather their belongings because they have been selected to "pick cotton at the nearest plantation." The person is told he will be picked up by an "executive slave" and taken to the plantation, where he will be searched.

Screenshots of the texts shared on X and submitted to WJLA contain the same message with slight variations in the language.

Samuel Burwell, the photographer at WVEC, told the TV station he knew several others who received the messages. Students at Howard University in Washington, D.C., reportedly also received the messages, a university spokesperson told WJLA.

Individuals in other states, including Pennsylvania and Alabama, have also reported receiving similar text messages.

D.C. police and the Office of the Attorney General said they were aware of the texts in statements sent to Fox 5 DC and WJLA.

Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares also condemned the messages when contacted by WVEC.

"The Attorney General's Office is aware of these text messages and unequivocally condemns them," Miyares said in a statement. "Anyone who believes themselves to be under threat should not hesitate to contact local law enforcement and their local FBI field office by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI (or 1-800-225-5324) or visiting FBI.gov/tips."

Anyone who receives a similar text message can also submit a report to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.