COLUMBUS, Ohio — The FBI is investigating some offensive text messages targeting Black students in Ohio and across the country.

“There’s still racism prevalent in America, whether we like it or not,” said Victor Davis, the second vice president of the Columbus NAACP.

Davis said the organization received reports of a new generation now dealing with hate.

“Young people are so impressionable, and many of them have never experienced racism to the extent that those of us who are older have,” he said. “They have lived in a much more diverse environment.”

The Columbus NAACP provided a screenshot of a message that told the recipient they were selected to be a slave and provided an address, telling them to arrive at a plantation.

The FBI confirmed on X it is aware of the texts across the country and encouraged anyone who receives one to report it to local law enforcement.

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost also posted on X that his office is looking into the “despicable messages” and said free speech does not protect phone harassment.

“It doesn't shock me at all about what goes on anymore, but it's deplorable to have something like that in today's world,” State Sen. Bill DeMora said about the texts.

DeMora said his office received word dozens of his central Ohio constituents were targeted by the messages. A Democrat, DeMora said the texts are a direct result of our current political climate, meant to pit people against each other and carry forward some of the offensive rhetoric used in the presidential campaign.

“They want to keep dividing and dividing us,” he said. “And at some point, the rooster is going to come home to nest.”

“America is a county that is composed of diverse populations, ethnicities, races, creeds and origins,” Davis said. “And oftentimes, I think, especially with the political tone, we forget how this country was founded for a diverse population.”