ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Thirteen-year-old Autumn McKnight was in disbelief when she received a disturbing text message that appeared to be part of a larger wave of racially targeted messages.
“The first thing I thought is, wait, is this real? Because if it is, it’s very serious,” Autumn said.
The message, which has been reported in states like California, Ohio, and Alabama, read: “Greetings, you’ve been selected to pick cotton at the nearest plantation. Be ready at 1 p.m. sharp with your belongings. Our executive slaves will come get you in a brown van; be prepared to be searched once you’ve entered the plantation. You are in plantation group B. Good day.”
McKnight’s mother, Kim Keller, was stunned when she learned of the text.
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“My heart just sunk,” she said.
“How did they find you? How did they know you’re Black?” Keller added.
She reported the message to the Orlando Police Department and was advised to notify the school.
McKnight noted that some of her friends from school, who are also Black, received the same message.
“So I asked if any of her White friends got the message, and she said no,” Keller said.
The FBI is now working with the Department of Justice and other federal agencies to investigate these messages.
Cybersecurity experts speculate a foreign nation-state may be behind the texts, hoping to incite fear and division.
Kiersten Todt, former Chief of Staff of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, emphasized the intent behind such a message.
“It does seem like this is a massive operation. It’s so negative. It is, uh, just laced with hatred,” Todt said. “And truly, if you’re looking to undermine our culture right now, our society, the best way to do that is to have us fight amongst ourselves.”
Keller believes the situation should not be dismissed.
“It should not be normalized, and it’s not acceptable,” she stated.
Authorities are urging anyone who received similar messages to report them as part of an ongoing investigation.
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