HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — Hillsborough County Commissioner Les Miller was a victim of another racist email attack Thursday. 


What You Need To Know


  • Miller received 3 racist emails, according to the county

  • Messages have been turned over to Sheriff's Office, Tampa Police

  • County issues statement of support late Thursday

  • More Hillsborough County stories

“Every time you get them or you hear that word, it cuts deep. I mean very, very deep,” Miller said. “It’s painful. But you have to take the high road, because if you don’t it will drag you down just as low as they are.”

Miller may be taking that "high road," but some of the other board members said the people sending those foul and hurtful messages need to be called out and punished. 

There were a total of three racist, hate laced emails sent to Miller. Two of the emails, sent from the usernames ‘Stonewall Jackson’ and ‘White Majority,’ were sent to all of the commissioners.  

Many couldn’t believe what they were reading.

“These messages are from individuals still in our midst who hold hate in their hearts," Hillsborough County Commissioner Kimberly Overman said. "And their words, sent anonymously, show ignorance, cowardice and are reprehensible.” 

Miller said as hurtful as those racist emails were, they shine a light on an ugly reality, much like many other events after the death of George Floyd.

“For my colleagues to see that today, it was just that same type of, I think, eye-opening experience that they saw, like, 'wait a minute, this is for real. This is happening,'” Miller said.

Even with the hateful messages, Miller said they won’t stop him from doing his job. That includes helping the very people who sent those hateful emails.

In the meantime, Miller says he has turned the letters over to the sheriff’s office and Tampa Police department.

Hillsborough County released a statement in support of Miller late Thursday: