Racist text messages target Black residents & students across South Carolina
Multiple residents and university students in South Carolina have reported receiving anonymous racist text messages. (WCIV)
(WCIV) — Multiple residents and university students in South Carolina have reported receiving anonymous racist text messages.
State House Rep. Tiffany Spann-Wilder said two individuals in the area received messages about a van coming to pick them up to take them to a plantation to pick cotton.
Officials don’t know where the texts are originating from, Spann-Wilder said.
Spann-Wilder said she has spoken to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) regarding the issue.
Clemson University Police have also received multiple reports of similar text messages being sent to Black students on campus.
“The Clemson University Police Department (CUPD) has received reports of students receiving text messages containing disparaging language from unrecognized numbers,” a statement from the CUPD investigation team reads.
“These numbers have been determined to be associated with online spoofing sites. CUPD is actively investigating the matter and working with state partners to identify the source of the messages. Based on the information available, there is currently no indication of a credible threat to members of the Clemson community.”
She added that these messages are being sent to students at schools across the South. Authorities are continuing to investigate, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
