The Copes family of Lindenhurst, Long Island received a horrifyingly racist note earlier this week asking them to leave town because they "don't belong" in the predominantly white neighborhood, NBC 4 New York reports.
"ATTN: AFRICAN-AMERICAN FAMILY," the all-caps note began. "PLEASE LEAVE LINDENHURST AS SOON AS YOU CAN. IT WILL BE BETTER FOR ALL OF US."
Darcell Copes, who is Black, has lived in the Lindenhurst home for two years with her three adult children and five grandchildren, says she "went from being fearful, protecting my family, to being totally confused, and wanted to know who and why. Today, it becomes even deeper: is it someone in the school district, is it the guy at the corner store, is it my neighbor down the street? Where?"
Her daughter Ronica Copes has since uploaded the hateful letter to Facebook, where it has been shared more than 3,000 times.
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Posted by Ronica Copes on Thursday, May 21, 2015
Long Island authorities are taking the matter very seriously, with Babylon Town and Lindenhurst Village condemning the letter for its "racist hateful views" in a joint statement on Friday, according to the Lindenhurst Patch: "The best way to fight bias is with solidarity and we stand with all of our residents in declaring that there is no place for this type of intolerance and hatred in the Village of Lindenhurst, the Town of Babylon, or anywhere in our community. We are, and always will be, a strong diverse community that does not cede ground to hostility, ignorance, or hatred, wherever it may appear."
Darcell Copes and family rightfully refuse to be intimidated, and told reporters they plan on staying in their Lindenhurst home. They have our full support.