The office of the Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill is actively encouraging individuals to come forward if they have received a racist spam text message stating they have been selected to "pick cotton at a plantation." This plea for public assistance follows reports of such messages spreading across the ArkLaMiss and beyond. "These types of spam texts are vile, threatening and only intend to divide us," commented the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office in a statement obtained by FOX 8 Live.
An investigation led by AG Murrill's Cyber Unit has uncovered that some of these messages originate from a VPN in Poland. However, the true source remains elusive, with Murrill stating, "My cyber team at the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation has discovered that some of these vile & racist spam messages can be traced back to a VPN in Poland. At this time, they have found no original source - meaning they could have originated from any bad actor state in the region or the world. We will continue to investigate." This update was first revealed in a report by WDSU. Murrill also urged residents who have received the message to report them to her office.
The texts, which have disturbed many with their invocation of slavery, have been sent to Black individuals across various demographics, including middle school students. In response, the FBI and several other agencies have initiated inquiries. The Louisiana Attorney General's Office communicated through WLOX that the LBI's Cyber Unit has linked some of these racist messages to a VPN service based in Poland.
The nationwide spread of racist text messages, reaching individuals in states such as Texas, Louisiana, and Alabama, has caused widespread alarm. The Louisiana Bureau of Investigation continues to explore the origins and implications of these messages. Anyone who has been a recipient of such a text is asked to report the incident to the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office at (800) 351-4889.
