RCSD, NY leaders condemn racist text messages sent nationwide
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — City and state officials are condemning racist text messages that have been sent out nationwide.
The text messages targeted Black and Brown Americans, including students. The text messages included racist terms and references to slavery.
It was reported that multiple New Yorkers, especially middle schoolers, high schoolers, and college students, received these messages.
The Rochester City School District released a statement about these messages, calling them distressing. In part, RCSD said:
"We are aware that a racist text message has been sent to cell phones locally and nationwide. We understand our distressing these messages can be and encourage students to reach out to their school counselor for support in processing their feelings."
New York State Attorney General Letitia James also released a statement, calling for the recipients of these messages to contact her office:
"The racist text messages targeting New Yorkers, including middle school, high school, and college students, are disgusting and unacceptable. I unequivocally condemn any attempt to intimidate or threaten New Yorkers and their families. I encourage anyone in New York who has received an anonymous, threatening text message to report it to my office."
Residents who have received these texts are encouraged to block those numbers and call the Attorney General's Civil Rights Bureau at (800)-771-7755 or email
