'Children Should Be Off Limits:' Atlanta Mayor, LGBTQ Ally says son was also sent racist text

A racist text sent to Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and posted to Twitter on Wednesday has spurred nearly ten thousand retweets and an outpouring of support from constituents and celebrities. Now, Mayor Bottoms has confirmed to 11 Alive that not only did she receive the racist text, but her 12-year-old son did as well.

From 11 Alive:

"I was most concerned that not only did I receive it, but my 12-year-old son received it as well," the mayor said. "So that was more concerning to me than anything."

On Thursday's conference call, she said she spoke afterward with Ambassador Andrew Young and discussed the incident, and that "he just reminded me that white supremacy is a sickness and we don't run for office to.. we are not cowards."

"I will continue to use my voice to speak on behalf of our community. Children should be off limits as it relates to any and everything, but we are fine and thank you for your concern," she told council members.

Supporters on Twitter did their part to drown out the racist noise brought on by the tweet by offering Bottoms encouragement and praising her leadership.

“I feel that we are still empowered to use our voices and to use our common sense, and that’s what I will continue to do as mayor,” Bottoms tells 11 Alive.

“And I have a good working relationship with the governor and I know that that will continue, but on this we disagree,” The mayor shared. “And his authority as governor is what it is, and it certainly supersedes my authority as mayor on paper — but it doesn’t supersede my voice, and I will continue to use my voice to urge our communities, our business owners and our residents to stay in.”