Kiah Morris

Last updated
Kiah Morris
Member of the VermontHouseofRepresentatives
from the Bennington 2-2 district
In office
January 7, 2015 –September 25, 2018

Ruqaiyah Khadijah "Kiah" Morris (born March 14, 1976) is an American politician who formerly served as a member of the Vermont House of Representatives for the Democratic Party.

Contents

Early life and education

Born in Chicago, Morris earned a B.A. in Gender Studies from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and a graduate degree from Roosevelt University. [1]

Political career

Morris was first elected in 2014 alongside longtime Republican representative Mary A. Morrissey. [2] The two were reelected in 2016 after running unopposed. [3] The only African American woman in the state legislature, Morris announced in August 2018 that she would not seek reelection to a third term following a campaign of racist threats against her and her family. [4] She resigned the following month, [5] [6] citing as an additional factor the desire to focus on her husband's recovery from open-heart surgery. [7] [8]

Morris has also served as director of the Alliance for Community Transformations, based in Bennington. [9]

Electoral history

DateElectionCandidatePartyVotes%
Vermont House of Representatives, Bennington 2-2 district
Nov 4, 2014 [10] General Mary A. Morrissey Republican 1,24142.49
Kiah Morris Democratic 87329.89
Joann ErenhouseDemocratic79727.29
Write-Ins 100.33
Anne Lamy Mook did not seek reelection; seat stayed Democratic
Nov 8, 2016 [11] GeneralMary A. MorrisseyRepublican2,14354.61
Kiah MorrisDemocratic1,75744.78
Write-Ins240.61

Personal life

Morris is married to James Lawton. [5] They have a son. [1]

Films

Documentary

References

  1. 1 2 "Representative Ruqaiyah 'Kiah' Morris". Vermont General Assembly . Retrieved June 11, 2019.
  2. ↑ Whitcomb, Keith (November 5, 2014). "Kiah Morris, Mary Morrissey win Bennington State House 2-2". Bennington Banner . Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  3. ↑ Therrien, Jim (November 10, 2016). "Keefe edges out incumbent Berry in Bennington-4 House race; Browning re-elected". VTDigger. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  4. ↑ Lindholm, Jane; Rosen, Sam Gale (August 30, 2018). "Rep. Kiah Morris Details 'Pervasive' Threats, Decision To Withdraw From Election". Vermont Public Radio . Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  5. 1 2 Flynn, Meagan (January 15, 2019). "A white nationalist's harassment helped force a black female lawmaker to resign. He won't face charges". Washington Post . Retrieved June 11, 2019.
  6. ↑ Baker, Vicky (January 18, 2019). "Kiah Morris case: How far do free speech protections go in the US?". BBC News . Retrieved June 11, 2019.
  7. ↑ "Black Vermont lawmaker Kiah Morris resigns following threats". CBS News . September 26, 2018. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  8. ↑ Stack, Liam (September 26, 2018). "Black Female Lawmaker in Vermont Resigns After Racial Harassment". The New York Times . Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  9. ↑ Carson, Derek (August 18, 2016). "Vermont legislators react strongly to 'racist' tweet at Bennington's Rep. Kiah Morris". The Berkshire Eagle . Retrieved June 11, 2019.
  10. ↑ "VT Elections Database – 2014 State Representative General Election – Bennington 2-2 District". Vermont Secretary of State. Archived from the original on September 29, 2018. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  11. ↑ "VT Elections Database – 2016 State Representative General Election – Bennington 2-2 District". Vermont Secretary of State. Archived from the original on September 29, 2018. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  12. ↑ Knight, Chris (Jan 13, 2023). "Film review: Backlash will make you angry, and that's good". National Post.
  13. ↑ Caillou, Annabelle (2 September 2022). ""Je vous salue salope": "elles vivent comme dans un film d'horreur"". Le Devoir.
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