‘Gobsmacked,’ woman receives anti-gay text; FBI investigates series of racist, anti-LGBTQIA+ messages
LAS VEGAS ( KLAS ) — The FBI is looking into a series of racist and offensive text messages and emails and encouraging any recipient to report details to the agency.
The agency released a statement about the series of emails and texts Friday.
"The FBI is aware of the offensive and racist text messages sent to African American and Black communities around the country and is in contact with the Justice Department and other federal authorities on the matter. The reports are not identical and vary in their specific language, but many say the recipient has been selected to pick cotton on a plantation," according to the statement. "The text message recipients have now expanded to high school students, as well as both the Hispanic and LGBTQIA+ communities. Some recipients reported being told they were selected for deportation or to report to a re-education camp. The messages have also been reported as being received via e-mail communication."
The FBI had not received reports of violent acts stemming from the offensive messages and was evaluating all reported incidents, according to the statement. The department said it is working with the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division and sharing information with law enforcement partners, and community, academia, and faith leaders.
Diana Brier said she received an anti-gay text on Sunday.
"I'm not surprised that my information is publicly available and that it's known that I'm a member of the gay community," she said.
The text message referred to an executive order, and stated the recipient was required to check in at Nellis Airforce Air Force Base in Las Vegas on Jan. 20, which is Inauguration Day.
"Following check-in, you will be transported to an undisclosed location for LGB re-education camp for a period of no less than 8 weeks," the text stated. "Your new president, Donald J. Trump, looks forward to assisting you in becoming a mentally and emotionally stable member of society by eliminating lifestyles that have been detrimental to our American way of life through re-education."
"At first, I was sort of gobsmacked," Brier told the 8 News Now Investigators. The text also referred to Jesus Christ, an "obligation to reproduce, birthing healthy white Christian children," and language against "transgenders."
There is also a threat included in the text that those unwilling to participate will be put away in a work camp for two years to life.
"Someone put a lot of thought and effort into this message. It was very detailed. It was very specific and very targeted towards the LGBT community," Brier said. "It was just something that, that I think I was just absolutely shocked and frankly repulsed and disgusted that this sort of rhetoric, this hateful speech is being propagated so quickly, so rapidly, and so, so for no reason."
The 8 News Now Investigators looked up the phone number and did not find results for a user or owner. It has a 301 area code, which covers Washington, D.C. and parts of Maryland.
Brier said she was sharing her story to encourage others to come forward.
"This is something we need to really get eyes on and really raise awareness and let my community know it's safe to let somebody know that you're receiving this," Brier told the 8 News Now Investigators. "If you've been on the receiving end of a hateful targeted message, tell someone. We need to be in a see something, say something kind of era."
In addition to encouraging recipients of the messages to report them, the FBI encouraged the public to remain vigilant and report threats of violence or anything considered suspicious.
The 8 News Now Investigators also reached out to the Nevada Attorney General's office. Spokesperson John Sadler said the office has not received any complaints regarding offensive messages targeting the LGBTQ community but did receive several complaints regarding similar messages with racist language. Sadler said anyone who has received one of the messages is encouraged to file a complaint.
"This type of hate has no place in Nevada," the Attorney General's office said in a statement. "True Nevadans defend their neighbor, regardless of race, sexual orientation, political beliefs, or gender expression. They do not spread messages of hate."
