Several individuals across different states claimed they received racially charged text messages around the time of the 2024 election, featuring alarming references to the Ku Klux Klan and messages urging recipients to “pick cotton at the nearest plantation,” as reported by local authorities.

Residents from at least Georgia, Detroit, Michigan, Virginia, Ohio, Alabama, North Carolina, and South Carolina spoke to local media about these anonymous messages they received either just before or after Election Day. A woman named Renee from Detroit shared a text she got at around 9:50 p.m. on Wednesday with Fox 2 news.

The text proclaimed, “Good afternoon Renee! You have been selected to pick cotton at your nearest plantation. Prepare to be ready by 10 a.m. with all your belongings, as you will not see them again. A white bus will pick you up. You’ll be checked for drugs and other substances! Once you arrive, you’ll be taken to your designated area. You belong to group 10B.”

Another woman in Detroit shared a similar message with Fox 2 about 10 minutes later.

This text stated, “Greetings, you have been chosen to pick cotton at the nearest plantation. Please be ready at 12 a.m. on November 13 sharp with your belongings. Our Executive Slaves will collect you in a brown van, be ready to be searched once you arrive at the plantation. You are in Plantation Group D.”

The texts have prompted Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares to release a statement to WVEC, condemning these messages. He stated, “The Attorney General’s Office is aware of these texts and completely denounces them. Anyone feeling threatened should immediately reach out to local authorities or their local FBI office.”

YSL News contacted the FBI about these messages on Thursday but had not received a reply as of yet.

Clemson University Students Targeted by ‘Online Spoofing Site’

The Clemson University Police reported receiving complaints of students getting messages containing offensive language from unidentified numbers. They explained that these numbers were linked to online spoofing sites.

“CUPD is actively looking into this issue and collaborating with state agencies to trace the origins of these messages,” the statement added. “At this time, there’s no evidence that points to a credible threat to the Clemson community. The CUPD takes all reports of disturbing communications very seriously and is dedicated to ensuring the safety of our University community.”

Law enforcement in Alabama is also investigating similar incidents where Black college students received these text messages, as reported by AL.com. University of Alabama spokesperson Diedre Simmons indicated that local law enforcement is examining the situation.

“We have learned that individuals across the nation have received these vile messages,” stated Simmons and the UA’s announcement. “We reported this to authorities and urge anyone with information regarding these messages to contact the right channels. UA students who have encountered or received such messages are encouraged to reach out to the Office of Student Care and Well-Being for further assistance as needed.”

Newton County Sheriff’s Office: ‘These Messages Intend to Incite Fear’

“Our agency is aware of viral social media posts and text messages claiming that members of a white supremacist/KKK group in Lexington, NC, are planning to target individuals from now until the Presidential Inauguration,” the statement read. “After discussions with our contacts, including the FBI and GBI, we found no credible evidence supporting these threats. These messages seem designed to instill fear within our communities.”

The Gwinnett Sheriff’s Office also shared a comparable statement on Facebook on November 2, asserting, “We have not received any updates indicating threats to any group(s) on or after election day. Hateful rhetoric like this aims to instill fear in the community and hinder our ability to exercise our constitutional rights.”

The sheriff’s office informed Reuters that a similar message about the KKK in Lexington had been circulating back in January 2021, and authorities had determined that those threats were not credible as well.