LOS ANGELES (KABC) — Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Albert Carvalho condemned racist text messages being sent to black Americans across the country and said some of the messages were sent to students in the district.

“We are aware of racist and inflammatory texts being sent nationwide, including to some of our students,” Carvalho said in a message Saturday afternoon. “We unequivocally condemn this hateful and threatening rhetoric. We are investigating this situation. If you receive one of these messages, students and families should contact their school for support.”

On Wednesday, reports began to emerge of messages in several states making references to slavery and cotton picking.

The FBI is investigating the reports.

“The FBI is aware of offensive and racist text messages being sent to individuals across the country and is in contact with the Department of Justice and other federal authorities regarding this matter,” the agency said in a statement.

A senior law enforcement source told ABC News that it was not determined whether the source of the racist text was domestic or foreign, but efforts are being made to find the origin.

State of emergency call for racist texts

Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable President Earl Ofari Hutchinson will ask LAUSD officials to declare a state of emergency Monday in response to the text messages sent to black students.

“The racist texts that students at LA schools have received pose a mortal danger to students due to potential violence,” Hutchinson said in a statement. “The abundance of hate crimes and hate violence makes it even more imperative that LAUSD officials take all security measures to protect and safeguard African-American students.”

Nicole Nuñez, whose 15-year-old son attends a Stella Charter School in Los Angeles, said her son and some of his friends also received a similar text message. She spoke to Eyewitness News and shared her frustration.

“I don’t understand why (there is) so much hate in this world. I don’t understand why we are not liked because of the color of our skin,” Nuñez said. “My question I have is how do they know my son’s name? How is all this information being sent to minorities with our specific names? It’s very scary.”

The students at Los Osos High School in Rancho Cucamonga they were also among those who received racist text messages.

City News Service contributed to this report.