A rash of racist text messages seemingly targeting Black students have gone out nationwide in the days surrounding the presidential election.
Some students at Fisk University, the University of Tennessee-Knoxville and Metro Nashville Public Schools received the messages, according to school officials. The messages, which vary in language, all appear to carry the same core message: That someone is coming to pick up Black people to take them to work as slaves and pick cotton at a nearby plantation.
The texts appear to be part of a “spoofing” operation, which masks the real identity of senders to send out spam messages. The threats do not appear to be credible, according to a statement by Fisk University, which is a private, historically Black university near downtown Nashville.
Metro Nashville Police Department spokesperson Brooke Reese said the messages are coming from a third party messaging application. Detectives from the department’s specialized investigations unit are working with law enforcement in other jurisdictions to find out where the texts originated.
Here’s what else to know about the messages.
Fisk, UTK, MNPS address racist text messages sent to students
Fisk University sent out a message to its student body Wednesday night saying officials are closely monitoring the situation and urging students to remain calm.
“These messages, which suggest threats of violence and intimidation, are deeply unsettling,” Fisk University said in a statement issued to students Wednesday night. “However, we want to assure you that these are likely the work of an automated bot or malicious actors with no real intentions or credibility.”
The email also told Fisk students who encounter something concerning to contact the school’s campus safety department at 615-329-8777.
University of Tennessee-Knoxville also reported students that received the messages, according to spokesperson Kerry Gardner.
“We have offered care and support to those students should they want it and will make support available to any other students who may be yet to come forward,” Garnder said.
She said students can find information and resources at StudentLife.utk.edu/CampusClimate/report-an-incident.
MNPS spokesperson Sean Braisted said the district notified police about messages received by students at one school.
“We would encourage anyone who receives a similar message to share that with authorities to support the investigation,” Braisted said in an email.
Who else is getting racist spoof texts?
Residents across multiple states reported receiving racist texts messages either before or after Election Day, according a report by USA TODAY. Local newspapers and TV stations have documented stories of the texts reaching people in Georgia, Virginia, Ohio, Alabama, North Carolina and South Carolina. It’s not yet clear if the trend has spread even more widely.
Screenshots of the messages have also gone viral online.
Related:University of Tennessee students targeted by nationwide racist text campaign
What exactly is spoofing?
According to the Federal Communications Commission, spoofing happens when callers or, in this case, texters disguise their identities to make them look like trustworthy sources, like local numbers, companies or government agencies. The method is often used to engage in criminal activity, like stealing personal information or money.
You can block numbers that send unwanted messages or make calls to your phone. Your phone company may also offer ways to block unwanted spam or scam calls. Some applications can also help keep them at bay. Learn more about how to spot and avoid spoofing at fcc.gov/spoofing.
