• SUPPORT

    • true stories, real people

    The Vermont Racial Justice Alliance continues to do the work of addressing system racism through their legislative agenda: Do The Work

    Submit Your Story

    The sad truth is that Black residents of Vermont are experiencing real and traumatic levels of racism every day.  They experience overt and covert racism from white people in the community and law enforcement.  They are also subject to systemic racism in many areas of their lives.  What follows are a few of the many stories that some Black Vermonters have had the courage to tell.

    Read them.  Believe them.

    Key

    News Article

    Podcast

    Data Dashboard

    Community members urge Middlebury school district to improve its response to racism (Sep. 2023)
    After facing racism at a Middlebury middle school, a departing dean calls for stronger protections (Sep. 2023)
    Ex-Bennington residents sue town over claims of racial discrimination, retaliation and doxxing (Jul. 2023)
    At Peoples Academy, allegations of ‘systemic’ racist bullying (Jun. 2023)
    After being accosted by protesters at a queer poetry reading, a Vermont artist fears for his safety (Jun. 2023)
    [Green Mountain Unified School District] board hears of racial bias incidents; reinstates Chieftain name (Feb. 2023)
    Allegations of Racism Scuttle Vermont Girls' Basketball Games (Jan. 2023)
    Middlebury high girls' basketball players share how racist comments affect their team (Jan. 2023)
    Student opens up about racial harassment at Brattleboro Area Middle School (Jan. 2022)
    Nicole Pereira: And yet, here we are... (Feb. 2022)
    Vermont Conversation: Is Vermont fertile ground for white extremists? (Aug. 2021)
    White extremism is winning in my Vermont town. I'm selling my animal sanctuary and moving. (Aug. 2021)
    Victim of racist road-rage incident in Winooski questions low-level charges (July 2021)
    Black Comfort, Or Lack Thereof, In Vermont (VPR - Brave Little State: July 2021)
    Panel: Troopers discriminated against Clemmons Family Farm director (June 2021)
    Vermonter confronts racial harassment in short time as state resident (April 2021)
    Black women persevere to lead in Vermont despite harassment (March 2021)
    Xusana Davis on race, belonging and ‘Vermontiness’ (Deeper Dig Podcast - Feb. 2021)
    Hartford Selectboard member resigns seat, citing experiences of ‘blatant bigotry’ (Jan. 2021)
    The often untold story of growing up Black in the second-whitest state (Jan. 2021)
    As women of color leave Rutland and Bennington counties, Vermonters reckon with racism (Jan. 2021)
    Not Okay - Explores how one Vermont high school is grappling with whether to fly the Black Lives Matter flag and whether to remove a mascot some say bears a disturbing resemblance to a hooded Klansman. (Sounds Like Hate Podcast: Sept. 2020)
    How the Kiah Morris case gripped Vermont, but hasn’t changed anything (March 2020)
    Anti-racism in the auditorium (Deeper Dig Podcast - June 2019)
    Vandal scrawls racist graffiti on Jasper Hill Farm structure (Sep. 2017)

    Vermont Police Bias

    ‘It was just a nightmare’: Vermont mother outraged over police response to teen in crisis (Feb. 2022)
    Panel: Chester police discriminated against Black driver in traffic stop (Aug. 2021)
    Alleging discrimination, Essex man says police chief’s apology not enough (July 2021)
    Vermont City of Vergennes Tried to Confront Race and Policing—and It Imploded (Feb 2021)
    UVM researchers show little progress in traffic stop disparities (Aug. 2020)
    Attorney general reviewing report of alleged misconduct by Vergennes chief (Aug. 2020)
    Black Burlingtonians arrested at much higher rate than white residents, report shows (July 2020)
    Report says Bennington Police display a ‘warrior mentality,’ hurting trust (Apr 2020)
    Advocates index police-reported race data from traffic stops (Nov 2019)

    Other Vermont Hate Incidents

    Racial slurs used at high school basketball game, school officials say (Feb. 2022)
    Racist language hurled at Winooski High soccer players, superintendent says (Sept. 2021)
    What more could we have done? (Sept. 2021)
    Vermont Conversation: Is Vermont fertile ground for white extremists? (Aug. 2021)
    Law enforcement not confirming Patriot Front’s existence in Vermont beyond posters and stickers (June 2021)
    State police probe anti-BLM vandalism at Jericho residence (June 2021)
    Upper Valley grapples with racist incidents (July 2020)
    As Vermonters speak out against racism, a ‘spate of hate’ has also emerged (July 2020)
    Man Charged With Hate Crime After Threats Sent To Vt. Democrats' Muslim Chairman (July 2017)
    Barre man accused in Vermont’s first federal hate-crime prosecution (Nov 2019)
    Police investigating ‘hate speech’ graffiti at Burlington’s Fletcher Free Library (July 2017)
    Incidents raise questions about intolerance in idyllic Northeast Kingdom town (July 2016)
    Settlement reached in racial bias case (June 2019)

    More on The Patriot Front in Vermont

    Law enforcement not confirming Patriot Front’s existence in Vermont beyond posters and stickers | True North Reports
    Patriot Front, whose logo defaced a Floyd statue, has history in Vermont
    Vermont police investigate Waterbury Dam ‘hate group’ graffiti
    What does the Patriot Front actually believe?
    Patriot Front posters appear at Vermont lot. How commuters responded
    No charges over white nationalist flyers left at synagogue, Pride Center
    Patriot Front hold brief rally in Burlington
    Pride Center, synagogue hit by ‘white nationalist hate group’ posters
    Champlain Valley Union High School defaced with anti-Semitic, racist graffiti
    UVM, St. Mike’s hit with white supremacist signs

    Learn more about the community discussion on public safety. Details can be found here.

    Click here to donate to the Vermont Racial Justice Alliance.