Re-Open Atlanta: Georgia Launches Investigation After Atlanta Mayor Gets Racist Text

Authorities in Georgia have launched an investigation after a racist text was sent to the mayor of Atlanta’s personal cell phone. Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms received the text on Wednesday after comments she made about the closure of Atlanta due to the coronavirus.

“Just shut up and RE-OPEN ATLANTA,” the text read after calling Bottoms a racial slur.

State Attorney General Chris Carr confirmed on Friday that he had directed his office to investigate and find out who sent the racist message.

“With my daughter looking over my shoulder, I received this message on my phone. I pray for you,” Bottoms said in a tweet. The mayor expressed greater dismay over the fact that her son, 12, also received the message.

Bottoms, a Democrat, has recently been critical of Republican Gov. Brian Kemp and his move to allow certain businesses to reopen during the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. The sentiment appears to echo those of recent protests, largely organized by right-wing groups, that have called for states to lift lockdown orders and allow non-essential businesses to reopen. President Trump has publicly supported the protest efforts.

Carr’s inquiry into the matter came after a request from 15 Democrat lawmakers in Georgia. Aside from its bigoted language, concern also surrounds the fact that the message appeared to originate from a state government email, ReOpen@Georgia.gov.

Lawmakers say that this leaves two worrisome possibilities: that the message was sent by a state employee or that the sender illegally faked a government email.

“We expect your office is equally concerned, and we request that you immediately begin an investigation to determine the individuals or individuals behind this text message so they can be held responsible,” lawmakers said in their message to Carr. “Your office should be able to obtain the necessary subpoenas to unmask the individuals responsible for this.”

Bottoms had voiced her disagreement with Kemp in an interview Monday over the governor’s recent order to reopen the state. She expressed concern and confusion about the move, stating that she was unsure what information Kemp was basing his decision on.

“I saw the announcement watching Channel 2 like the rest of Georgia,” Bottoms said. “I didn’t know it was coming and obviously the governor is the governor and he certainly has the prerogative to make orders that he deems appropriate. He did not consult with me. I don’t know what the reasoning and data that the governor used to make this decision was, because I have not spoken with him, but I did not know in advance.”