One day after the presidential election, and in the days following, Black people across the country, reportedly as young as middle schoolers, received text messages addressing them by name and telling them that they would be transported to plantations to work as slaves and “pick cotton.”

In the aftermath of the 2024 presidential election, authorities across the United States have launched investigations into a disturbing series of racist text messages sent to children, college students and working professionals from unknown phone numbers.

Racist texts with references to ‘picking cotton,’ ‘plantations’ and ‘slave catchers’ have been sent to Black people in at least 20 U.S. states shortly after the presidential election. The Trump campaign denies any involvement.

"You've been selected to pick cotton" text messages under investigation nationwide