Wave Of Racist Texts Raises Outcry In New Jersey, Other States

NEW JERSEY — “You have been selected to pick cotton at the nearest plantation.” This is one of the text messages that many Black men, women and children across the nation recently got on their phones in the wake of the 2024 election.

A wave of racist messages has made its way around the country, touching New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, among other states. The texts have been sent to adults and students – including middle schoolers – each with different words, but a similar ugly tone.

• Read More: Racist Texts Sent To Students In Several Pennsylvania School Districts
• Read More: Racist Text Message Spam Sent In PA, Attorney General Investigating

It isn’t currently known who sent the messages. A spokesperson for president-elect Donald Trump told CNN that his campaign has “absolutely nothing to do with these text messages.”

The FBI announced that is aware of the “offensive and racist text messages,” 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,” the FBI stated.

The New Jersey Legislative Black Caucus is among the voices decrying the incident and calling for a hate-crime investigation.

The group of state lawmakers wrote:

“The New Jersey Legislative Black Caucus unequivocally condemns the recent wave of racist and hateful text messages targeting students at colleges and universities across the nation. These messages are not merely offensive; they constitute hate crimes. These acts of intimidation are designed to instill fear, disrupt lives, and undermine the safe, inclusive learning environments that every student deserves. We will not tolerate these despicable attacks, nor any form of hatred that aims to harm or divide our communities. Black Americans have been foundational to this nation, leading movements that have established the principles of freedom, democracy, and civil rights. Our communities have fought for and achieved progress in voting rights, women's rights, and social justice, contributions that continue to shape America for the better. Hate crimes such as these are an affront not only to Black students but to the entire legacy of resilience, strength, and advancement that our communities embody.”

The caucus continued:

“The New Jersey LBC firmly rejects all forms of hate and oppression. We stand in solidarity with our allies and all those who champion equity, freedom, justice, and the right to self-determination. Together, we will confront and dismantle the forces that seek to reverse our progress. Silence is not an option. These attacks demand our unwavering response. The New Jersey Legislative Black Caucus will not back down, and we will not yield in the face of hatred. Our voices will be heard, our communities will remain steadfast, and our commitment to justice and equity will endure. We will not be intimidated, and we call on every individual and organization of good conscience to join us in denouncing and confronting these hate crimes head-on.”

Members of the New Jersey Legislative Black Caucus include its chair, Shavonda Sumter (NJ-35), vice-chair Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (NJ-15), assembly members Herb Conaway Jr. (NJ-7), Linda Carter (NJ-22), William Spearman (NJ-5), Reginald Atkins (NJ-20), Garnet Hall (NJ-28), Antwan McClellan (NJ-1), Tennille McCoy (NJ-14), William Sampson (NJ-31), Shanique Speight (NJ-29), Cleopatra Tucker (NJ-28) and Benjie Wimberly (NJ-35), and senators Gordon Johnson (NJ-37), Renee Burgess (NJ-28), Angela McKnight (NJ-31), Britnee Timberlake (NJ-34), Troy Singleton (NJ-7) and Shirley Turner (NJ-15).

Many people who received the messages are speaking out in the wake of the incident, including a Piscataway resident, who said she was shocked, angered and saddened to get a racist text referring to “executive slave catchers.”

“It became sadness when I realized that young people were getting it, like elementary schoolers and middle schoolers,” she told CNN. “Why would you want to intentionally hurt somebody that you don’t even know?”

• See Related: New Jersey Reacts To ‘Racist’ Comments During NYC Trump Rally

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