Georgia targeted by unfounded rumors of KKK attacks on voters

"I just received this from a friend of a friend who works in the Gwinnett County Sheriff's office!!! Be on Alert," the copy-pasted rumor says. 

"Last night, a deputy told a family that local White Supremacists/ KKK members originating out of Lexington, NC, are planning to attack from now until the Inauguration. They are plotting against Blacks, especially black women because in their eyes, we are easy targets!"

The message, which started circulating online as early as November 1 and inundated social media on Election Day, continues: "Please be vigilant! Try not to do anything alone, especially after dark! This is not a hoax or a rumor."

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Screenshot of a Facebook post taken November 5, 2024

The text spread across Threads and Instagram. Some users said they received similar warnings on the neighborhood social media platform Nextdoor.

The posts echo heightened anxiety about the hyper-charged campaign pitting Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris against Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, which was marked by two assassination attempts on the former president. Election officials have ramped up security given concerns over possible civil unrest or violence against poll workers.

The FBI warned of bomb threats at polling stations in "multiple" US states on Election Day, adding that none were credible but many appeared to originate from Russia.

In Georgia, a critical swing state, South Fulton Mayor Kobi told AFP journalists outside a polling station at Feldwood Elementary School that seven voting locations in greater Fulton County, home of Atlanta, faced threats. The disruption to voting lasted less than 30 minutes and "all the threats were found to be non-credible."

But the claims of planned KKK attacks in Gwinnett County, which voted for Democratic President Joe Biden in the 2020 election, are unfounded.

The Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office said in a November 2 Facebook post that it had "not received any information indicating threats to any group(s) on or after election day" (archived here).

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Screenshot from Facebook taken November 5, 2024

"Hateful discourse such as this aims to instill fear in the community and disrupt us from exercising our constitutional rights," the post says. "The Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office remains dedicated to protecting all citizens and we will continue to monitor and respond accordingly to all suspicious and threatening behavior."

In another post on Election Day, the sheriff's office reiterated its commitment to "safeguard citizens of Gwinnett County" (archived here).

"If you observe anything unusual or suspicious at your polling location, please report it to your local law enforcement agency by calling 911," the statement says.

"Voting is a fundamental right and an essential part of our democracy. We encourage all voters to exercise their right to vote peacefully and respectfully."

As of 2100 GMT on November 5, Gwinnett County Police had published no reports of attacks or threats (archived here).

Nelly Miles, public and governmental affairs director at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), told AFP on November 5 that the agency "is not involved in an investigation" related to the claims on social media.

AFP has debunked other claims about the 2024 election here.