ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – The FBI is investigating another wave of racist text messages.
The agency said it has received reports targeting high school students, as well as those in the Hispanic and LGBTQ+ community.
It’s something people in metro Atlanta are beginning to experience.
Santiago Marquez, CEO of the Latin American Association, said a staff member’s daughter received a text on Monday.
“Essentially saying that they were going to get deported this week,” said Marquez. “That ICE was going to come in a brown van to pick them up.”
The messages are nearly identical to nationwide reports of racist text messages received by Black Americans shortly after the election.
The messages invoking slavery stated recipients needed to report to a plantation for work.
“It’s unfortunately the state of affairs in our community. There is a lot of fear,” said GiGi Pedraza with the Latin Community Fund of Georgia.
Pedraza said they’ve received complaints of anti-immigrant flyers being put up in public places.
Pedraza said they believe it’s tied to the presidential election.
“They are choosing to act in a way that’s hateful and divisive,” she said.
Marquez said it’s important for those affected to know their rights.
“It’s our moral obligation now to make sure that we’re pushing out as much factual information to our community as possible,” he said.
Marquez stressed to seek out support from reputable organizations.
“These are false claims,” said Marquez. “For the parents out there whose children are getting these messages please know that this is not true.”
The FBI said it is aware of the text messages and is in contact with the Justice Department and other federal authorities.
“The reports are not identical and vary in their specific language, but many say the recipient has been selected to pick cotton on a plantation,” the agency said in a statement. “The text message recipients have now expanded to high school students, as well as both the Hispanic and LGBTQIA+ communities. Some recipients reported being told they were selected for deportation or to report to a re-education camp. The messages have also been reported as being received via e-mail communication. Although we have not received reports of violent acts stemming from these offensive messages, we are evaluating all reported incidents and engaging with the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division. We are also sharing information with our law enforcement partners, and community, academia, and faith leaders.”
The Trump campaign has denied any tie to the series of racist text messages.
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