Portsmouth lawmaker Lucas receives additional security
Senator received racist threats after social media post
Portsmouth legislator Louise Lucas said she didn’t hesitate to speak out after the Supreme Court overturned the landmark Roe v. Wade case June 24.
“I put something on social media saying women are going to fight like hell to make sure we keep abortion rights in tact here in Virginia and that women will have access to abortion,” the Democratic senator said Tuesday. “Then I started getting messages.”
Lucas, who has amassed a strong following on Twitter, is no stranger to social media feuds — but this was different. These messages carried powerful images and words of racism and violence against Blacks, so Lucas, who is Black, reported them to the authorities. And now she has additional security officers when she attends public events.
“This is stuff I haven’t seen since” the civil rights movement, she said.
One message sent to her on Twitter included a photo of a Black man hanging from a tree and the words “you when” written underneath. Another said “learn your place” and had an image of the Ku Klux Klan marching through Washington.
A third message included an image of the confederate
flag and racial and anti-gay slurs.
“Next up we are coming for your rights,” the message stated. “We are gonna take back our country you [racial epithet and homophobic slur].”
The messages came from different accounts.
“I am mad as hell because I haven’t had anything like that (sent to me) in a long time,” Lucas said.
The state senator said she reported the messages to the Virginia Division of Capitol Police, which provides security to Virginia’s government officials and employees. She said they have worked alongside other law enforcement to give her additional protection.
On Twitter, Lucas posted her appreciation for all those alarmed by the threats she received.
“Thank you to everyone concerned about my safety,” she wrote. “We have the finest police force in the country that protects Virginia legislators with @ VaCapitolPolice and they are coordinating with law enforcement anywhere I go including (the Virginia State Police) to ensure my safety.”
Meredith Weisel, regional director of the Anti-Defamation League, said there has been an increase in the last few years of threats against marginalized groups, including Jews, women, minorities and members of the LGBTQ community.
The ADL is a national nonprofit that tracks hate and extremism.
“It has gone more mainstream,” she said. “We have seen national leaders, state leaders, or other people in positions of authority who have served as gateways or champions (for hate). Extremists have noticed that and they are emboldened by it.”
There is no easy fix, Weisel said. But she urged people to report all threats or signs of extremist activity, to support anti-bias educational programs and to push social media platforms to hold users accountable for misinformation or hate speech.
“Counter hate speech with good speech; anytime you see something negative, counter it,” Weisel said.
Although Lucas said it was “horrible” to receive the messages, the state senator said she will not be intimidated.
“It will not stop me,” she said. “If anything it just doubled my resolve.”