Internet Freaks When Prominent Black Lives Matter Activist Appears to ‘Endorse’ Trump — Here’s What Happened

Black Lives Matter leader and former Baltimore mayoral candidate DeRay McKesson shocked his Twitter followers Friday when he informed them that he is “not actually black” and endorsed Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.

.@deray is the latest to be hacked because Twitter credentials are allegedly on the dark web https://t.co/dO40ucYUtv pic.twitter.com/mAnDGiNNFx

— Mic (@mic) June 10, 2016

It turns out, however, that McKesson’s account was accessed by a hacker who broke into his phone.

Earlier Friday, McKesson described in detail exactly what happened and how he was eventually able to got back into his phone.

I was hacked today: my Twitter account, two email addresses, & my phone. It was not due to passwords, they hacked my phone account itself.

— deray mckesson (@deray) June 10, 2016

At 10:31 am, someone called @verizon impersonating me and successfully changed my SIM & unsuccessfully attempted to change my phone number.

— deray mckesson (@deray) June 10, 2016

By calling @verizon and successfully changing my phone's SIM, the hacker bypassed two-factor verification which I have on all accounts.

— deray mckesson (@deray)

June 10, 2016

Today I learned that it is rather easy for someone to call the provider & change your SIM. The hacker got the account verification texts.

— deray mckesson (@deray) June 10, 2016

I'd realized that my phone had been hacked & separated from the actual phone number when the web only routed here: pic.twitter.com/zwYygVfbYy

— deray mckesson (@deray)

June 10, 2016

The staff from @twitter were incredibly helpful once alerted and helped to both delete some of the hacked tweets and give me back access.

— deray mckesson (@deray) June 10, 2016

Verizon recorded the call made this morning by the imposter and we are working with lawyers to get the recording. It's been a long day.

— deray mckesson (@deray) June 10, 2016

Then, just to make it clear, McKesson noted that he does not endorse Trump, whom he says is a "racist" and a "bigot" who is "unfit to lead" the country.

No, I do not endorse Trump as the next President. He cannot be the President of the United States. He is racist & a bigot, unfit to lead.

— deray mckesson (@deray) June 10, 2016