BUFFALO, N.Y. — New York Attorney General Letitia James called racist text messages targeting "Black and Brown" people, including New York students, "disgusting and unacceptable."
"The racist text messages targeting New Yorkers — including middle school, high school, and college students — are disgusting and unacceptable," James said in a statement Thursday night.
James said the messages come from anonymous senders claiming that they have been "selected to pick cotton at [their] nearest plantation," or "chosen to be a slave."
The Associated Press said similar text messages were reported in Alabama, California, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee. The FBI and other federal agencies are investigating.
"I unequivocally condemn any attempt to intimidate or threaten New Yorkers and their families. I encourage anyone in New York who has received an anonymous, threatening text message to report it to my office," James said.
If you've received one of those messages, the Office of the Attorney General asks you to contact its Civil Rights Bureau by calling 800-771-7755, emailing civil.rights@ag.ny.gov, or filing a complaint online at this link.