Officials and universities in a growing number of U.S. states are condemning racist text messages that were sent to Black residents this week. The messages, which began appearing Wednesday, were received by people in at least 32 states and the District of Columbia, CBS News has found.

Federal and local authorities are investigating a host of racist text messages sent to an unknown number of Black recipients across the country.

Many teenagers and college students around the country have reported receiving racist text messages that were sent to phone numbers across the country last week.

A seventh-grader at Howard Middle School is one of many people across the country who received a racial text message the day after Election Day.