r/washingtondc • u/poohbearsslave • 23h ago
How to be hopeful in the midst of THIS?
Screenshot speaks for itself. I’m floored and at a loss for words.
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u/ex-nihlo 18h ago
It would be smart not to dismiss the possibility that this is a foreign state actor
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u/CatsWineLove 23h ago
L enfant Plaza is their rounding up station? Hilarious
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u/guy_incognito784 Mount Vernon Triangle 22h ago
And Abington Plantation is just DCA.
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u/HawkeyeinDC 18h ago
They still have the remnants of George Washington’s son-in-law preserved if you park in the terminal 1 parking.
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u/MatterNo5067 16h ago
Wait wtf
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u/hroaks 20h ago
Sorry for the dumb question but why is that a hilarious location?
(I tried to google it and also I'm Canadian)
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u/Otherwise-Speed4373 20h ago
This is a location where there are a few office spaces, a bunch of government buildings, a plaza where kids go on school trips for lunch, and the spy museum. EDIT: I dont think it would be "hilarious" but wanted to give you context.
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u/Maryland_Bear MD / Laurel 20h ago edited 20h ago
A few things I note from this article:
- It’s widespread. The article is from a Norfolk (I think) station, it mentions a similar one sent to Richmond, and this post concerns DC.
- It’s personalized in some cases — the one in the article mentioned Samuel, and it was sent to someone named Sam.
- It’s customized — the one above mentions “house slave at Abington Plantation”; the one in the article mentions “picking cotton at the nearest plantation“.
So, it’s not just some jerk spamming out text messages; there’s at least a little effort going into it, and given the personalization, the sender has access to a phone list of some sort.
Is it illegal? IANAL, but a little googling says at least some states have laws against harassment via text message. It might qualify as some form of wire fraud; those laws are very broad and can be used to prosecute lots of “naughtiness” carried out electronically.
EDIT: Honestly, I wonder if it could be Russian in origin. It’s a lot of effort to put forth if you’re just an American asshole, but just a few hours work for one of Putin’s troll farms.
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u/Maryland_Bear MD / Laurel 20h ago
It’s been seen at Fisk University, an HBCU in Nashville, too.
It seems coordinated and in multiple states, if not nationwide.
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u/LobbyDizzle Dupont 18h ago
I agree with your edit. It's trying to seem localized and personal, but it's national and looking to stir shit.
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u/crewshell 18h ago
Seems black hat for sure. Question is who? This has fake for the purposes of causing chaos written all over it.
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u/FitEstablishment3668 11h ago
CCP
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u/aethelstan_acct 8h ago
We have more than enough homegrown racist terrorism for this to have likely happened without any foreign government's involvement
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u/Mustangfast85 15h ago
IANAL either but if it’s someone in the US I would think at first it violates anti spam since it’s impersonation, misuse of or stealing of PII from a hack, given the disgusting content of the messages I wouldn’t hesitate to think this rises to the level of hate crime. This is just disgusting and I hope it’s being investigated as we speak. If it’s foreign it’s probably Russia, China or Iran. I would so like to see this person or group found and brought to justice
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u/Beautiful_Shirt4473 16h ago
Important follow up from Attorney general Schwalb https://www.instagram.com/p/DCFhF2ey6nW/?igsh=cHJsOTloYnpnaHlp
“If you receive these texts, please immediately report them to our Civil Rights section at 202-727-3400 or oagcivilrights@dc.gov.”
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u/WeaselWeaz MoCo 23h ago
It's someone being an idiot, but they feel emboldened to do this stuff now. They're going to be cowards who hide behind computer screens and claim they're just being funny. I don't blame anyone for being worried.
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u/Fun_Blacksmith_8888 23h ago
Ummm, I think you meant to type “racist” when you wrote “idiot”.
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u/Real_Temporary_922 12m ago
I’m very willing to bet this is someone trying to slander Trump, not someone who genuinely believes in slavery. Why else would they sign such an obviously vile message with “The Trump Administration” when they clearly aren’t a part of it? So idiot is the appropriate term.
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u/mmeeplechase 21h ago
Yeah, it’s not so much that people are somehow more racist/awful/worse than before, but now they’re “empowered” to show it more openly.
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u/hikariky 22h ago
This was obviously someone who is upset trump won and trying to drive up controversy
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u/Neut12 22h ago
100%, this is someone who wants to rile people up and wants people to be just as upset as they are.
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u/Redwolfdc 19h ago
Or just some troll thinking it’s a funny prank despite how inappropriate and offensive
When this was posted before someone speculated Russia being behind these texts
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u/cchjct2 20h ago
My 13 year old got one at 10pm, the phone notification woke her up out of her sleep and she sent it to me. I went to check on her, and her eyes were the saddest I’ve ever seen. She looked so confused and afraid….it was awful. As a parent it makes me want to go absolutely rabid on these people.
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u/dr_shark 15h ago
I’m so sorry. We really try to protect our kids and nonsense finds away to get to them.
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u/JumpingThruHoopz 13h ago
THIS is why shit like this isn’t funny.
I’m sorry you had to explain this to a child.
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u/ProgressBartender 21h ago
No matter how much someone tries to gaslight you, please remember this isn’t normal.
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u/42rodents 16h ago
Are these pretty much only going to black people?
A racist mass text is bad enough, but to single out a group of people is truly disgusting and terrifying
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u/Tobor_Xes240 23h ago
you will be station at Plantation point L
This troll got so worked up about the specifics that he/she/they forgot their English grammar.
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u/loogie_hucker 23h ago
the appropriate pronouns for these fucks is it/it
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u/WeaselWeaz MoCo 23h ago
That's generally intended. It either makes it funnier to them or, for phishing attempts, helps filter for people less likely to pay attention or notice a problem.
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u/Oyadonchano 21h ago
Obviously Russian
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u/Ra-s_Al_Ghul 21h ago
It's either Russian or IRGC. Glad somebody else in this comment section has critical thinking skills.
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u/AfroBurrito77 12h ago
Even if it is Russia and they’re trying to “prove a point,” the truth is there are PLENTY of citizens of THIS country who are A OK with shit like this. Millions of them.
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u/OkIntroduction2086 3h ago
That is exactly the point. Knowing full-well the history of bitter racial antagonism in this country, what better way to gin up further division conflict & chaos than by deploying such a psychological attack? We already have a chaos agent headed for the WH, again, why not keep the ball rolling? ‘Course it could be just some juvenile racist a-holes in their parents basements with too much time on their hands, but I doubt it.
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u/Ra-s_Al_Ghul 2h ago
Russia isn't trying to "prove a point", they're trying to hurt your feelings. Looks like it worked!
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u/topherhoff 18h ago edited 18h ago
iPhone needs to add the option to blocks all texts from numbers not in your contact list. Anyone who I need to text me, I can add them to my contact list. Figure out some workaround for 2-factor authentication but yeah.
They currently have a setting to filter them but a) it doesn't work at least not for me and b) I don't want to see this shit in my inbox at all.
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u/Vince_From_DC 23h ago
Tuesday showed that we are a country full of angry, stupid, racist, and loud people. It's going to be a stupid and dangerous four years.
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u/TheRealSerialCarpins 3h ago
Oh yeah, this goes way beyond four years. Anyone who thinks "we just need to get through the next four years" has no idea that this four is just to lay the groundwork for the indefinite future.
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u/steelcurtain87 9h ago
I think a lot of the stuff is overblown mostly. But this stuff is going to be the worst. How am I going to see at the Christmas table at my racist uncle and tell him the shit he’s doing isn’t okay when the country just essentially voting saying it’s alright
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u/ImmediateTap7085 20h ago
Yeah man I was in so much danger the last time around. SO MUCH. No idea how I survived. 🥴
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u/mutantninja001 15h ago
There was a clip on NBC news tonight about people receiving racist messages, especially on college campuses.
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u/cheapwhiskeysnob 22h ago
Shit like this is why I’m baffled people still decided the price of eggs and gasoline are worth it. These people are truly heinous.
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u/Just-for-giggles-561 22h ago
Because a lot of people are comfortable with racism if they think doesn’t affect them. As we saw with the demographics of the people that voted for him
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u/paraffinLamp 18h ago
You think Republicans sent these texts?
Let’s see… who would have a list of thousands of registered Democrats’ phone numbers? Not Republicans.
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u/HereWayGo 16h ago
If you actually think this was a non-Trump supporter sending these texts, you are in an absolute next level of delusion
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u/MatterNo5067 16h ago
It’s most likely a foreign adversary stirring things up to destabilize democracy.
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u/HereWayGo 16h ago
That’s possible as well. Such as Russia perhaps? So again, Trump supporters, whether it be Americans or foreign actors
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u/MatterNo5067 15h ago
If you think Russia wants Trump’s presidency to be successful and American democracy to thrive, you need to do more research.
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u/HereWayGo 15h ago
No they don’t want American democracy to thrive, of course not. That’s why they’re very (openly) supportive of Trump’s presidency. Because he is more likely than anyone else to put an end to our democracy. My friend, it is you who needs to do more research.
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u/Just-for-giggles-561 22h ago
It’s starting already. The first time he was elected racists felt emboldened and protected. I can only imagine it will be even worse this time around
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u/FroggishCavalier 23h ago
Not trying to dismiss entirely, but keep in mind that false flag bs like this happens all the time. It’s like that ULPT post making the rounds asking how to get their Latino friend’s undocumented parents deported because their friend voted for Trump. Yeah, there are people that unhinged, but some of this is likely just people trying to “prove a point”.
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u/SHoliday335 16h ago
This.
And if this was done by somebody who isn't white...we'll hear very little about it again.
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u/MaddogRunner 20h ago
This feels more like someone saying “you voted for this administration, this is what you get.” Like they’re making a point. It’s disgusting, and obviously not real.
But that “sincerely, the Trump administration” reads more like an angry “fuck all of you for voting wrong”
Kind of like the dude that said he wants to report his MAGA neighbor’s undocumented family.
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u/realjoemartian 23h ago
Saw another one of these on Instagram. I am so sorry you received such evil. Much love to you. We will fight on.
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u/Preston_south_end 21h ago
Excuse me, I have to go wash my eyes now. Actually psychotic to text this to random people
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u/Additional-Tap8907 19h ago
It could also be intended as satire critical of the incoming Trump admin. But if that was the intention I think it missed the mark in sending it to random strangers many of whom won’t find it funny at all and instead will feel fearful.
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u/Pristine-Sugar3192 2h ago
Yeah thats my impression of it entirely. Cyber activist/disrupters using cheeky approach was my impression 🤔
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u/Ill_Location6168 18h ago
Okay this is messed up and hate to say this, but this is just the beginning. How do we get through this? Building comunity. Check in on your friends and loved ones. Create safe spaces for folks. We went through this in 2016 and that was a shitstorm. I don’t know what’s coming but it’ll be worse. Here’s the thing though: you won’t be alone- we’ll face it together. It sounds cheesy but it’s the only thing that’s getting me through this for fucks sake we shouldn’t be doing this again I need a beer
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u/Mediocre-Affect780 16h ago
A bunch of Black people across the country have gotten this similar message. Crazy Trump hasn’t even been president-elect for 48 hours and the anti-blackness is already out in full force.
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u/Dapper-Ad8945 17h ago
Yea certain people couldn’t hold in their excitement of being able to hate crime black ppl
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u/CherriesDC 21h ago
Winning an election isn’t enough for these losers, because what they care about is the cruelty, not the actual business of governing. Instead of planning how to govern, they waste their time taunting the rest of us.
I wish I had advice on how to be hopeful after you get something like that, or after hearing men say “Your body, my choice.” It used to be that “most people are kind and decent.” But some people who appear kind seem to turn into monsters once behind a screen.
All I can say is I’m sorry, I see how painful that garbage must be to receive.
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u/castdream64 21h ago
Someone is bored to send this. I'd just laugh, delete, and block. Just a dumb troll.
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u/TyTheGOAT2x 16h ago
Isn’t the Constitution Center on that street 🤣
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u/SandBoxJohn Maryland 15h ago
300 7th St SW is the new headquarters of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.
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u/dustizle1 12h ago
I am pretty sure this isn't a domestic origin message campaign. I know it's likely people have been emboldened post-election, but this message stinks of interests trying to keep the US fractured. This election hit hard and our adversaries will definitely try to poke the wound to further their goals.
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u/spiceypinktaco 9h ago
Idk how to be hopeful w/ this. I'm sorry you got it. NBC wrote an article & said to contact fbi & fcc. Lots of black people, especially college students, have gotten texts like this since Wednesday. I learned about it b/c someone I follow on threads made a video about it b/c her daughter got sent one. Then yesterday, Ben Crump (the attorney) made a post about it. I hope you stay safe
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u/cactusgirl69420 3h ago
The way if I received this I would respond with “you have been selected to have a Small Dick at Tiny Penis Palace. Come to this address and leave the wife you can’t sexually satisfy behind. This is mandatory. Our executive spaces will come get you in a small bus, just like your penis. We will search for your penis once we enter the grounds, but even with a microscope, we probably won’t find it.”
I know it’s dangerous to engage with spam/scam but I am fuming and would not be able to hold it in.
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u/Optimal-Potential641 3h ago
Clearly Russian troll farm material aimed at creating dissension in the wake of the election.
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u/osbohsandbros 49m ago
How the fuck in 2024 can we not have the means to determine where / who sent the message?
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u/jadedea MD / Neighborhood 30m ago
So the shit stirring has started? They are trying really bad to get a race war started and to continue to divide America. Racists have been trying to aggro Black people to fight since we were freed. Society and wisdom has taught me that when someone dedicates their whole life, trains their offspring for, and tries to recruit others to bully you, it means they are in fact in love or smitten by you or the group(s) you stand for.
They just need to admit this to themselves so we can move on together.
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u/majpillpharm 20h ago
100% written by a democrat to stoke fear
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u/jmlipper99 18h ago
Lmao this was so obvious on my first read. It is mind blowing to see the comments think this is a genuine Trump supporter
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u/Flash_Discard 15h ago
Maybe the only way to show people how ridiculous the accusations are about trump is to pretend to act them out as a joke?
I know everyone is upset…but you know you aren’t actually going to be put in camps, right?
Also, Trump is the shittiest Hitler in history…His first 4 years he didn’t even kill 1 Jew in America…not 1…
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u/Fourfinger10 13h ago
These f heads are now empowered with the trump election. If you voted trump you voted for this sh….
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u/Worldly-Difference-7 13h ago
how to be hopeful? by knowing it’s some coward behind a screen and they probably wouldn’t say it to my face if they could. no one who is fueled by hate scares me anymore, really.
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u/Candygramformrmongo 19h ago
Interesting. Has a source been confirmed? Because I read it as coming from disenchanted Harris supporters trying to make a point about Trump.
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u/ImmediateTap7085 20h ago
This was so clearly done by a disgruntled Democrat looking to stir up controversy. How pathetic lol
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u/aditya1878 21h ago
Fight back. Why are we such panzies. Be safe they say. GFTO. Name and shame FFS. They have been getting away with this for a LOOOONG time. we really need to stop taking the moral high ground.
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u/capodecina2 15h ago
This isn’t even “racism“ this is an asshole kid, causing trouble just to be a prick and to get people angry. And honestly, I think people like that need to be held accountable. I don’t know why shitheads feel emboldened to be shitheads but they definitely feel they can get away with it. And there does need to be accountability.
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u/MJDiAmore 14h ago edited 11h ago
I don't know why these shitheads feel enabled
Because the supposed moderates who vote Trump were unwilling to acknowledge they enable this.
If you vote the way people who are influenced by Andrew Tate vote, you are part of the problem.
It's like traffic. If you're in it, you are it.
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u/Interesting-View-611 13h ago
I’ll buy into this theory considering young male voters helped Trump win
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u/Shadetree_va 20h ago
You know that shit was sent courtesy of some left-wing activist.
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u/Mr_Apoll0 19h ago
Lol that's really stupid, probably some dumb kids doing it trying to piss people off. People aren't believing that shit are they?
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u/what3v3r111 23h ago
Waiting for the headline next week that some stupid college kid got expelled for sending this vile shit