Racist text messages sent after election received by Louisville students

Racist text messages suggesting the recipients would soon be deported were sent to some Jefferson County Public Schools students Thursday, seemingly part of a wave of offensive messages being sent to Black Americans and other minority groups across the country in the wake of the 2024 general election.

In an email sent to staff members, Southern High School Principal Sariena Sampson said a series of racist texts circulating in several U.S. states, including Kentucky, were sent to Southern students and referenced deportation.

"We are concerned about students and their families calling and unknowingly self-reporting and ending up on some sort of list, as we don't know who the culprits behind these texts are," Sampson said. "It is my primary goal that our students feel safe, welcome and that they have a sense of belonging here at Southern High School. Please do everything you can to make that true for our students."

JCPS spokesperson Carolyn Callahan confirmed a few students at Southern High School received the text messages Thursday.

While Louisville colleges and universities have not received reports of any students receiving the texts, an increase in similar content has been seen across the U.S. Some of the reported messages tell recipients that they've been "selected to pick cotton at the nearest plantation," while others include a sign off saying "Sincerely, A TRUMP SUPPORTER," the Tallahassee Democrat reported.

Anonymous messages have been reported in Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina and Virginia, according to USA TODAY.

A spokesperson with the FBI Office of Louisville told The Courier Journal on Friday that local agents are "aware of offensive and racist text messages sent to individuals around the country, including in Kentucky" and remain in contact with the U.S. Department of Justice and other federal authorities.

The New York Times reported that the White House has condemned the messages, saying racism has no place in America.

“We strongly condemn these hateful messages and anyone targeting Americans based on their ethnicity or background," White House spokesperson Robyn Patterson said in a statement.