BENNINGTON, Vt.: A two-year investigation into a Vermont police department has found that officers failed to adequately investigate alleged threats against former state legislator Kiah Morris due to its racism and prejudice.
In a 54-page report, the Vermont Human Rights Commission found that the Bennington Police Department endangered the safety of Morris, a Black woman, by withholding critical information about a white supremacist who had been targeting her on social media.
Morris, first elected in 2014, resigned from the Legislature in 2018, citing threats.
Morris, who since moved from Bennington, issued her first public comments about the Human Rights Commission investigation Tuesday,
I distrust law enforcement and have lost confidence in that institution and its representatives to act with integrity, Morris said. I feel less secure now with the passage of time and the well-documented escalation of racialized incidents since our departure there.
The town of Bennington issued a 16-page response refuting the findings and claimed that there is no bias, Vermont Public Radio reported.
Bennington Select Board Chair Jeannie Jenkins said Tuesday that the case highlights the limitations of legal system in curtailing racist speech. Jenkins called on the broader community to do a better job making residents of color feel more comfortable in Bennington.
Weve learned a lot about maybe how to be a little braver, more willing to step up and say, This isnt right,” Jenkins said.
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