Philadelphia’s official civil rights agency is aware of offensive and racist text messages circulating throughout the city and nationwide. Black Americans, including high school and college students, have reported receiving alarming messages instructing them to report to a plantation along with other deeply offensive and hateful references. Similarly, hateful messages may also be targeting Latino and LGBTQIA+ groups.
“These kinds of messages are vile and disgusting. It is a completely unacceptable attempt to harass, demean, divide, and intimidate our communities,” said Commission on Human Relations (PCHR) Executive Director Kia Ghee. “Racial discrimination, in any form, but particularly through the use of harassing messages that target some of our most vulnerable is a violation of basic human rights and an affront to our core values as a society.
“Our agency is steadfast in its commitment to fighting this and all other forms of discrimination and harassment. We do not, and will never, condone practices that perpetuate inequality and injustice.”
The FBI has urged anyone who receives such messages to report them immediately via their Electronic Tip Form, available at tips.fbi.gov.
For additional information or to report hate and bias incidents, contact PCHR at pchr@phila.gov or 215-686-4670. Incidents of hate and bias can also be reported through an online reporting system at phila.gov or through the city’s anonymous hotline at 215-686-2856.
