CHICAGO (Wales) — Investigators say pertaining to texts It was sent to hundreds or even thousands of Black people in at least 16 states.

Those in Illinois say they worry physical violence could be next.

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“It says, ‘Good morning. You have been selected to pick cotton from the nearest field,'” Theresa Aguda said.

Aguda woke up to this message the day after Election Day. He says he can wait for the “managing slaves” to pick him up and take him to a plantation.

“And I said, ‘You know what, they’re coming here, so I’ve got something for them.’ Don’t think I’m just going to jump in and go get this, it’s not going to happen,” Aguda said.

Many of these texts have Black Americans on edge in states like Georgia, North Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Alabama, Louisiana, and now here in Illinois. Some messages were personal.

“They actually said my first and last name,” Jordan Myart said. “It was as detailed as them saying, ‘You will be searched when you arrive at the plantation.'”

TextNow.com, a phone service that allows people to create phone numbers for free, says “one or more of our accounts has been used to send text messages in violation of our terms of service.”

Officials in Illinois and across the country are condemning the messages. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul stated that he was angry and said, “Hate has no place in the state of Illinois, full stop.”

“It feels dangerous and God forbid anything happens to me or anyone else,” Myart said.

“It makes you feel like you have to take care of yourself every time you go out,” Aguda said.

Aguda says she is heartbroken to have to explain the realities of racism to her children and grandchildren.

“My mother’s family had nothing to do with us because we were Black,” Aguda said. “It’s a shame I feel like we’re going to go back there.”

Although the messages came just hours after Donald Trump was elected president, there is no evidence that the messages are linked to him or his supporters.

Investigators say they are trying to determine whether the texts came from the United States or abroad.

Local law enforcement urged anyone who has received these messages or knows someone who has received them to contact them.