Racist text messages are being sent to Black Americans in Ohio and around the nation , telling them they’re selected to be enslaved and assigned to pick cotton on a plantation.
The widespread messages are being reported in multiple states and screenshots are going viral on social media sites. The messages vary in details, but follow the same basic script.
Students seem to be some of the targeted recipients.
“Some students have received these hateful text messages,” said Ohio State University spokesman Ben Johnson. “We have reported the messages to the Office of Institutional Equity and are offering support services. We are aware that this is happening nationally.”
Columbus State Community College spokesperson Brent Wilder confirmed students at the college have received spam messages. College officials weren’t able to quantify how many students.
“This is racism at its highest,” said Columbus NAACP President Nana Watson. “I believe it is a hate crime as I see it.”