We’ve already reported on the immediate uptick of racist, sexist and xenophobic incidents that have taken place since Donald Trump was elected this past Tuesday, but the stories keep pouring in.
Black freshmen at the University of Pennsylvania on Friday received multiple messages via GroupMe that contained “violent, racist and thoroughly repugnant images and messages,” the university said in a statement about the incident.
UPenn also happens to be the alma mater of the President-Elect.
The school is still not clear exactly how many students were targeted nor how it happened since the freshmen were added to a group chat within the app without their consent — meaning it’s not clear how those responsible obtained the victims’ contact information. Screenshots show messages with photos of lynchings, claims to love Trump and use of the n-word. The Daily Pennsylvanian, the school’s newspaper, reported that in a group chat message titled, “Trump is love,” an individual wrote “dumb slave.” Another individual posted a photo of the Donald Trump campaign’s signature red hat with the words, “GRAB THEM BY THE P***Y,” the newspaper reported.
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“It was really sad to see their faces, they were crying,” MBA student Adrienne Hopkins told the Huffington Post about those who had received the messages.
“It was a reminder for them that no matter how much education you obtain, no matter the riches you amass, there are some people who will view your humanity as not worth the same amount as theirs.”
The account sending the messages is believed to be based in Oklahoma, the university said. A student at the University of Oklahoma has been suspended as the investigation continues.
An Update to the Penn Community on Racist Messages Directed at Penn Students⠀
— Penn (@Penn) November 12, 2016
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We wanted … https://t.co/PK8O10cb18 pic.twitter.com/FgLNZCNISj
“This is simply deplorable,” the University’s admin said in a statement. “This is absolutely vile material and completely offensive to everyone on our campus. We are both angry and saddened that it was directed to our students or to anyone. The people responsible for this are reprehensible.”