RICHMOND, Va. – In response to reports that racist text messages were seemingly targeted at Black cell phone users in more than 10 states in the wake of the election of Donald J. Trump, including Virginia, ACLU of Virginia Executive Director Mary Bauer released the following statement:
“It is appalling that anyone would invoke the trauma and cruelty of this country’s history of slavery to level racist threats of violence at Black Virginians. That most recipients of these hateful text messages live in the South is presumably no accident – but those seeking to exploit the Commonwealth’s shameful past as the capitol of the Confederacy forget at their own peril that Virginia has a proud history of advancing racial justice, too, a history which we must build on today.
“Even as the election of Donald J. Trump has emboldened those elements of our country hoping to stoke hate and fear, it must also serve as a clarion call to all Virginians across the Commonwealth that the time to build an inclusive democracy is now. Hate has no place in our communities. We are committed to fighting it in every form with our partners over the next four years, and beyond.”