Black students in Hopkins, Minnetonka among those receiving racist texts following election

Black students in Hopkins are among those around the country who have reported receiving multiple racist text messages following Donald Trump's win in Tuesday's 2024 election, sparking a response from the school district this week.

An email was sent by the Hopkins Public Schools Superintendent, Rhoda Mhirpiri-Reed to families detailing that multiple black students at one of the district's middle schools have received racist text messages that reference slavery and plantations from "an unidentified source."

"After connecting with the Minnetonka Police, we confirmed that similar incidents have been reported in K-12 and college settings in at least seven other states, including Minnesota," Mhirpiri-Reed said.

The threats and messages have prompted responses from the FBI and the NAACP , with NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson calling them "vile and abhorrent."

"The unfortunate reality of electing a President who, historically has embraced, and at times encouraged hate, is unfolding before our eyes," Johnson said. "These actions are not normal. And we refuse to let them be normalized. The NAACP was founded in the spirit of liberation and progress, bringing otherized communities together to fight for a brighter tomorrow."

The messages in question come from an unknown source and reads as an automated message that urges readers "to report to a plantation to pick cotton."

"Let us be clear: messages like these have no place in Hopkins Schools," Mhirpiri-Reed said. "We are resolute in our commitment to making our schools safe, inclusive environments for all students, staff and families. Guided by our core values of love, vigilant equity, and authentic inclusivity, we are dedicated to responding firmly - there is absolutely no room for hate."