Vermont State Rep Resigns, Says the ‘Sacrifices of Service Were Becoming Too Great’

Rep. Kiah Morris, a Democratic state representative from Vermont, has stepped down from office, as NPR and other outlets are reporting.

Morris, 42, cited extensive racial harassment and claimed to The New York Times that the lack of response she’s experienced from local law enforcement has been “stunning.”

She had been the only black woman in the Vermont state legislature, as NPR noted.

Back in August, the native of Chicago had indicated she would not seek re-election — and wrote on Facebook that the political discourse in the United States had become “divisive, inflammatory and at times, even dangerous.”

Now she’s left sooner than planned, also noting that her husband is recovering from heart surgery.

She wrote this past Tuesday, “I step away now to focus on caring for and supporting my family during this time of transition and ensure our health, safety and well-being are prioritized.”

She had tweeted this out earlier this month:

“They win,” when we look to a single person as the answer, shoulder shrug when people speak truth to power and minimize the real effects of misogynoir. I am not the first nor the last to face this choice – but let me be the last to endure this in service to the state. End this.

— Kiah Morris (@KiahMorrisVT) September 1, 2018

She shared this as well on Vermont Public Radio: “Beginning at the last election cycle, I just started having this uptick of being a really intentional target of a number of different folks that are affiliated with white supremacist groups.”

She added, “It’s been very harrowing to see not only this happening within the online discourse world but also happening within the real world. We had propaganda being left underneath the door of the Democratic Party. I had a home invasion, vandalism — even the woods near my house where we go and walk frequently as a family had swastikas painted all over the trees there.”

She had recently been the victim of “pranking” teens, she said — and had even moved to an inn for a period of time.

She told several outlets she did not feel protected enough by local law enforcement.

She had recently been the victim of “pranking” teens, she said — and had even moved to an inn for a period of time.

Here’s more on the issue:

Today, after great consideration, I officially announced my resignation as state representative for Bennington 2-2. Please see my full statement here: https://t.co/kYdK1db5bl

— Kiah Morris (@KiahMorrisVT) September 25, 2018

I talked with Kiah Morris, the only black woman in the Vermont House, about her decision to resign following two years of racial harassment and threats.

“The sacrifices we’re becoming too great,” she said. https://t.co/tlqUzOVXxT

— Meagan Flynn (@Meagan_Flynn) September 28, 2018

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