Black University of Wisconsin-Madison students received racist text messages as part of a nationwide wave of text messages sent over the few days following the election, UWPD reported Friday.
The messages contained references to slavery and were “unsolicited, harassing, and racist in nature.”
UWPD said in an email to The Daily Cardinal that it was aware of the nationwide issue and that some UW-Madison students were recipients of the text messages, but there were no official reports to the department.
Messages containing mentions of slavery have been reported in other Wisconsin cities, including Milwaukee. In one instance, these texts were sent to a 12-year-old.
The FBI and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) are investigating at this time. UWPD said there is no information to suggest the threats are credible.
“We are committed to the safety of the UW–Madison campus and community, and we take all reports seriously,” UWPD said in a statement on Nov. 8.
These texts come as hate crimes rise following election season. The current political climate is “rife with opportunities for the trend of increased hate to continue,” according to an April 2023 report from The Leadership Conference Education Fund, a national civil rights group. Increased white supremacy plays a significant role in driving this trend.
Students may fill out a Harassment, Discrimination & Bias report to receive support from the Office of Student Assistance and Support.
Students also can contact UWPD at (608) 264-2677. If it is an emergency, call 911.
Drew Wesson is a staff writer and photographer for The Daily Cardinal. He has written stories covering public safety, protests, political events and more. You can follow him on Twitter @drewwesson1.
