‘In 2020 this is what we’re still facing’: US mayor received racist texts over coronavirus response

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Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has revealed that she received a racist text message, in response to her criticism of Georgia’s partial reopening amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Ms Bottoms, a Democrat, has been an outspoken critic of Georgia governor Brian Kemp‘s decision to reopen parts of the state’s economy.

Mr Kemp is allowing businesses such as barbershops, gyms and nail salons to reopen from Friday, beginning the state’s ending of social distancing measures.

The mayor urged residents to stay at home, despite the easing of restrictions, and added that the state is “not out of the woods yet.”

Earlier this week, Ms Bottoms said: “I have searched my head and my heart on this and I am at a loss as to what the governor is basing this decision on.

“You have to live to fight another day, and you have to be able to be amongst the living to be able to recover.”

On Wednesday, the mayor revealed she had received a racist text message, while she was with her daughter.

The message said: “N-----, just shut up and RE-OPEN ATLANTA!”

The Mayor tweeted a screenshot of the message and added: “With my daughter looking over my shoulder, I received this message on my phone. I pray for you.

“’Conscientious stupidity or sincere ignorance.’ ~Martin Luther King, Jr.”

The mayor’s 12-year-old son received the same racist message, according to CNN.

Ms Bottoms, told MSNBC on Friday that the text “doesn’t frighten me, but it saddened me that in 2020 this is what we’re still facing in America.”

Ms Bottoms added to CNN that despite receiving the message, she would continue to do what is best for her city’s residents.

“We are not cowards. Cowards don’t run for office,” she said.

Google’s dedicated coronavirus page shows that Georgia has upwards of 21,102 confirmed cases and at least 846​ deaths.

According to a tracking project hosted by Johns Hopkins University, nationally there are upwards of 889,661 people who have tested positive for coronavirus. The death toll has reached at least 50,890.