'You are in Slave Group B': Racist texts sent to Austin students
AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Racist text messages are popping up across the country and have now made their way to Central Texas. It's a warning for parents for what might be on their children's phones.
"When she sent that text to me I was terrified," Sharon Herring said. "I was like, 'Oh my God.' I couldn't understand why somebody would send that.
"When she sent that text to me I was terrified, I was like 'Oh my God.' I couldn't understand why somebody would send that."
Sharon Herring
Herring is still in disbelief over a disturbing text sent to her 13-year-old granddaughter.
The text said, "You have been selected to become a slave at your nearest plantation. Please be ready by 12 a.m. with all your necessary belongings. You will be picked up in a white van with a Trump representative from your area. "
The message goes on to say, "You are in slave group B."
"I feel like we were targeted because we were democrats because how would they know that?" Herring said.
It appears Herring's granddaughter is not alone.
Austin Independent School District teacher Shaun Hinton asked his students on Thursday if any of them got any "weird or strange messages." Hinton said one student told him they received a text that said they would be deported.
The message said the student would be "picked up in a brown van" and "are in deportation group A3."
"I'm pretty terrified for my granddaughter," Herring said. "She's still worried and scared about it."
The FBI said it is aware of what's happening. In a post on social media, the agency said it's aware of the texts being sent around the country and is contact with the Justice Department and other agencies on the matter.
"Parents [need] to be more aware of our children's phone and social media apps that they're on. Just to monitor your children close because you never know if this type of thing can happen again," Herring said.
One message most of us can agree on.
The FBI added if someone is physically threatened to report the incident to their local law enforcement agency.