NEW ORLEANS – In the wake of Donald Trump's election win, dozens of Black people across the country, including Louisiana, received racist text messages about slavery. The following is a statement from Executive Director Alanah Odoms in response to these texts and other racist messages shared in the wake of Election Day, including a letter mailed to the ACLU of Louisiana's office.
"We have been made aware of several Black Louisianans who have received racist and frightening text messages in the time after Election Day. If you have received this message or any other racist message, please report it to the Louisiana Bureau of Investigations. You may do so by calling 800-434-8007.
In the strongest of terms, we condemn these messages and the emboldening of white supremacists in the wake of electing a president who has spread racist lies. We ourselves received a letter after Election Day filled with racist slurs and threats of death and sexual violence.
These messages are meant to intimidate us. Instead, they prove the importance of our continued fight for racial justice. We will not back down in our fight to end white supremacy. We will not back down against laws meant to keep us disenfranchised and discouraged. We carry a legacy bigger and bolder than any white nationalist can ever dream of. Most of all, we are united in this fight. We will not back down."
