RI Lawmaker Under Fire For 'Divisive' Racial Comments

PROVIDENCE, RI — A Rhode Island lawmaker is under fire after posting a racially charged tweet Tuesday morning. Rep. Patricia Morgan said teachers and state leaders want to "divide" the country using critical race theory.

"I had a black friend, I liked her and I think she liked me too," Morgan tweeted. "But now she is hostile and unpleasant. I am sure I didn't do anything to her, except that I am white. Is that what teachers and our political leaders really want for our society? Divide us because of our skin color? #CRT."

The Black Lives Matter Rhode Island political action committee called Morgan's words "offensive and deeply insulting to the Black and Brown community."

"If Rep. Morgan truly believed we shouldn’t be divided by our skin color, she wouldn’t have made this divisive of a comment, along with the many other similar comments she has made in the past," the organization said. "Rhode Island should no longer tolerate ideologies, by any political party, that are hateful and divisive: in the media, in policy proposals, and in our everyday lives."

The statement comes after Morgan introduced a bill to banning teaching "divisive concepts," also known as critical race theory, in Rhode Island schools. These include the idea that "the state of Rhode Island or the United States of America is fundamentally racist or sexist ... [or] an individual, by virtue of their race or sex, is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously," among others. Read the full text of the bill here. The bill was held for further study by the House Education Committee in March.

Morgan sits on the House Environment and Natural Resources, Health and Human Services, Labor and Municipal Government and Housing committees. BLM RI called for House Speaker Joseph Shekarchi to immediately strip Morgan of her assignments.

"Anything less than these substantive actions is another tacit acceptance of racism from the General Assembly that can no longer be tolerated," the organization said.

The speaker issued a statement saying there was "no place for divisive remarks by any House member. I condemn any such comments."

Sec. of State Nellie Gorbea, meanwhile, said Morgan's tweet was "ignorant and embarrassing."

"The strength of our state is in our diversity," Gorbea said. "Rhode Island deserves leaders who bring people together, not recklessly divide us."