A sleepy city council race in Winooski has gotten complicated. Candidate and Black Lives Matter Vermont director Ebony Nyoni is enmeshed in a bitter legal case that raises questions about how she runs the local chapter of the prominent civil rights organization. Nyoni’s troubles may have prompted a credible write-in candidate to step into the ring.
Last July, Keren Sita, a South Burlington resident and the 2017 Miss Black Vermont, sued Nyoni for slander and libel. Sita, 20, alleged that 42-year-old Nyoni defamed her in a June 27 Facebook post that claimed Sita was having “relations” with Nyoni’s ex-husband.
That same month, Sita, who said she was Nyoni’s unpaid personal assistant at BLMVT, joined six others who have been affiliated with the racial justice group to author an open letter to Nyoni. The letter, copied to more than two dozen people, claimed that Nyoni’s leadership was “dysfunctional” and “abusive.” The letter accused Nyoni of misusing the organization’s funds to pay for dog accessories, alcohol and reclaiming her towed car. It called on Nyoni to step down as director.
In response, Nyoni countersued Sita in August for libel, citing the letter — and making it part of the court record. She has accused Sita of trying to destroy BLMVT with mistruths. “It’s a smear campaign,” she told Seven Days during recent interviews.
Nyoni said she currently draws no salary from BLMVT. “I don’t earn anything, not from the organization itself,” she said. “Anything I get is from speaker fees.” She reported her total annual income as $5,600; the court waived her legal filing fees.
Nyoni said BLMVT revenues have not been substantial. Under U.S. Internal Revenue Service rules, charities with more than $50,000 in gross receipts are supposed to file an annual public disclosure that lays out pay for executives. Nyoni said that BLMVT revenues in 2015 and 2016 were below that threshold. She said she would be filing a disclosure for 2017. “I know what I’m doing,” she said. “If I needed to file, I would have filed.”
The women’s dispute has been personal. Both sought, and got, relief-from-stalking orders against each other, meaning they weren’t supposed to have any contact. They are representing themselves in court. In early January, the two agreed to mediate their legal differences but then changed their minds, court records show.
Judge Dennis Pearson was assigned to the case after Sita asked Judge Robert Mello to recuse himself. Sita contended that because Mello had granted Nyoni’s request for a relief-from-stalking order, he could not be objective.
Although no criminal charges have been filed, Winooski police have been drawn into the disagreement.
The court record includes an email exchange between Nyoni and Police Chief Rick Hebert. Nyoni complained to him on January 1 that Sita was communicating with her in spite of the relief-from-stalking order. Nyoni demanded that the police cite Sita, or “otherwise I will have no choice but to seek counsel regarding a civil suit against the city. What are you doing to protect me from the violation of this order, and constant harassment? Let me know by the 2 of January or this will go public,” her email reads.
Last week Nyoni said that her differences with the department have been resolved. Hebert declined to comment.
Nyoni told Seven Days that the dispute has nothing to do with her council candidacy and that she is running for a variety of reasons. She would be the only black woman on the council. “I want other young women of color to see that it’s a possibility and that they can get their foot in the door,” Nyoni said. “And also I see things in this community that I love and that I want to improve on.”
Initially, Nyoni appeared to be a shoo-in for the council slot. There are two vacant seats, and she was one of two candidates who filed a petition by the January 29 deadline to be on the ballot. The other candidate is Kristine Lott, a 32-year-old data analyst who serves on the city’s housing commission.
Then, shortly after the filing deadline, nonprofit executive Hal Colston announced he would run as a write-in candidate. Colston said he was not trying to defeat either Lott or Nyoni but rather to serve the community where he has lived for eight years. The timing was a coincidence, he suggested.
“A couple of close friends I care about and love kind of twisted my arm and said, ‘Why don’t you run?'” said Colston, who in 1996 founded the Good News Garage, which fixes up donated cars for low-income people struggling to get to work. Colston has also been involved in racial justice efforts.
He currently works as director of the grant-funded Partnership for Change, a nonprofit that works to improve Winooski and Burlington schools. After six years, its funding will sunset in June.
Colston, 64, said that would give him time to serve in office, something he’s long considered. “I think this is another way for me to give back to the community,” he said. “I love Winooski.”
Sita said there was an active “community effort” to recruit Colston after Nyoni filed to run. “All I can say is, people made an effort to make sure that Hal Colston is a write-in,” she said. “We know the effects of Ebony. I think it’s best that I leave it there.”
Colston said he was unfamiliar with the details of the lawsuit between Nyoni and Sita but had seen the letter about Nyoni’s leadership of BLMVT.
“I think the open letter just really came from a place of care, from what I could discern,” he said. “People were obviously concerned about her leadership, and was it the right fit at this time for what was trying to be accomplished through Black Lives Matter.”
He declined to comment further on her candidacy.
Winooski Mayor Seth Leonard said he was unfamiliar with details of the legal fight and that he was not endorsing any candidates. He also said he was unaware of Nyoni’s threat to sue the police department. Asked if that could complicate a city councilor’s role, he said that good rapport between councilors and staff is key.
“I can certainly see where that would be challenging, not knowing the details there of what their exchanges have been,” the mayor said. “It’s fair to say that if that’s where a relationship is starting, it’s going to take some work and some effort.”
Leonard added that Nyoni could bring an important and unique perspective to the council.
Nyoni was critical of Seven Days for looking into her legal dispute, saying it was not relevant to the campaign. She asked if the backgrounds of other candidates would be similarly scrutinized.
A record check at Chittenden District Court last week turned up nothing on Lott but did show several driving violations for Colston from the early 1990s. He was charged with driving under the influence for the second time in 1992 and pleaded no contest after the charge was amended to negligent driving. He pleaded guilty to driving with a suspended license in 1991.
“I learned the hard way that it’s very important not to drink and drive,” Colston said. He called the incidents a “foolish mistake” and said he had learned from the experience. “I’ve had a safe driving record since,” Colston said.
Colston grew up in Pennsylvania and moved to Vermont in the late 1980s to work as director of catering at what was then called the Inn at Essex. He got into nonprofit work in the 1990s.
As a councilor, Colston said, he would work hard to bring jobs and opportunity to residents, especially those who are low-income or recently arrived immigrants and refugees. “I would love to see more support and development of small businesses that reflect the needs of our growing, diverse community,” Colston said. He also wants to encourage more participation by New Americans on the city’s many commissions.
Last Saturday at a meet and greet inside the Winooski coffee shop Scout & Co., he distributed campaign flyers with instructions on where to write in his name.
Colston’s other opponent, Lott, graduated from Michigan State University in 2007 and has lived in Winooski off and on since 2010. “I just want to bring balance in general, moderation,” she said, referring to the tensions between new construction and historic preservation; and recent arrivals and those who have lived in the city for generations.
New housing should cultivate mixed incomes and avoid concentrating poverty, she said. And while it’s exciting to see growth, Lott said, she hears from many residents who want new development to be incorporated without dramatically changing the face of the city.
Nyoni said she’d bring a rare empathy to elected office. She can’t afford a car, she said, and knows firsthand what many low-income Winooski residents are up against. She’s stood outside in frigid weather waiting for the bus and wants to see better transit — especially to the nearest major grocery store, a Shaw’s in Colchester.
Nyoni grew up in New York City and moved to Burlington to attend the University of Vermont. After graduating, she worked in education and social work and ran a beauty salon.
She helped launch BLMVT to address institutional racism. In the organization’s storefront on Main Street in Winooski she sells flags, T-shirts, posters and other products, many related to BLMVT.
As a councilor, she would work to bring the city’s diverse groups together, she said. Nyoni would like to see street fairs celebrating different cultures and street signs that include translations in Somali, Arabic and Nepali — reflecting the languages of local immigrant groups. For her, running for office is an outgrowth of years of activism.
“I have to be the change,” Nyoni said.
This article appears in Feb 21-28, 2018.
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This is a shocking and demoralizing story. Ms Nyoni should withdraw her candidacy and learn how to behave in public. What an embarassment.
As an African American i must declare that she does not speak for 90% of the black community..
Black Lives Matter uses “Black Lives Matter uses “victimhood” as a currency.
This is a shocking and demoralizing story. Ms Nyoni should withdraw her candidacy and learn how to behave in public.
What an embarassment.
As an African American i must declare that she does not speak for 90% of the black community here in Vermont.
Black Lives Matter uses “victimhood” as a currency and Ms Nyoni has certainly figured out how to cash in
It should be noted that in addition to being the director of the 501(c)3 Black Lives Matter Vermont Ltd, Ms. Nyoni previously was (per the SecState Corporations Search database)the Vice President of a Domestic Nonprofit called Gods Love Demonstrated International along with a Mr. Jonathan Gift Nyoni and a Ms. Maria Sparhawk. This nonprofit corporation registered the tradename of Gold Ministries in November of 2007(GOds Love Demonstrated). A search for either shows a GOLD ministries (GOLDmdc) with pastor named Jonathan Gift Nyoni in Tanzania claiming the pastor to be “…highly respected teacher of demonology, and spiritual warfare, in connection with intercessory prayer He teaches the radical method, of deliverance eg; testiology methodology for expelling demons”.
I have previously requested BLM’s foundational documents, public documents they are required to produce on demand, and haven’t heard a peep in 3 weeks.
If the BLM cause truly cared about moving in a positive direction the national leadership would remove Ebony from here current position her actions put the entire movement in a bad light. And if the citizens of Winooski care about their city they will vote in anybody other than a woman that threatens the police chief with a law suite in order to solve her own personal problems. This woman is no leader.
Well, it didn’t take too long for these problems to pop up.
Maybe Ms. Nyomi should rename her group “My Wallet Matters”.
I want to say that I have seen Ebony put herself on the line for marginalized people time and time again. She has been willing to speak out on behalf of people of color, and has helped many, many white people to understand the effects of institutionalized racism in our state and in our country. I hope she gets to serve the city of Winooski. She would be an asset to the City Council- we desperately need the perspective of low income women of color. Ebony Nyoni is a caring, strong, smart woman who has proven her commitment to helping others.
Christine, I have been an Activist in this community for two decades. I believe you are sadly mistaken and will follow up with you soon.
This is what I believe:
Winooskians have the right to be financially independent.
Winooskians have a right to live in a community where they can access fresh, affordable foods
Winooskians need continued access to affordable housing, and opportunity to purchase family homes
Winooski’s best asset is it’s historical landmarks, and we need to preserve and protect
More to come on Channel 17 at 6:30 this Friday
Thanks!
This is a modern day witch hunt. The Lynch mob has disclosed themselves. Despicable behavior.
@Seven Days, I’m disappointed. This article reads exactly like the gossipy dribble it is instead of giving readers unbiased information on an historic race and the defamation of a valuable community organization. Even in the little bit of extremely biased information given in the article any reader can tell that these unfounded, personal grievances have nothing to do with Nyoni’s ability to serve. A suit over a Facebook post is not helpful info for citizens of Winooski. Nyoni’s opposition discredits themselves when Colston says his joining the race has nothing to do with Nyoni yet Sita claims it does and when the biggest accusation against Nyoni is her somehow profiting from BLM VT yet she doesn’t have a car. Additionally, a full history of Colston’s public service is given but where is any mention of Nyoni’s long history of non profit work, opening a school in Africa and all that BLM VT has accomplished *in spite* of a very active smear campaign against its founder? Nyoni has garnered 600 members throughout the state, been the face of the movement at the state house lobbying for the Racial Justice Reform Bill, for the Women’s March on Montpelier, has gone to bat for students being racially bullied and unfairly suspended and hosted a unprecedented Women’s conference among many other achievements. It is not lost on me that it is a prominent woman of color who we are so quick to disbelieve and that those who seek to discredit her align themselves perfectly with the bigots who don’t believe Black Lives Matter (just see the negative comments above). Indeed, that is exactly how white supremacy works. This article is a distraction.
Whoa, hold up. Go back to the opening a school in Africa. She was previously involved with a 501(c)3 (Gods Love Demonstrated aka Gold Ministries) from November of 2007. The EIN of that organization was 80-0608835. Per the IRS Exempt Organizations Select Check tool at https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos/ePostSearch.d… that organization failed to file a 990N for at least three consecutive years and lost exemption because of that failure in 2015. A review of the IRS database of e-postcard 990N filings doesnt include the EIN 80-0608835 which would seem to indicate that they actually never filed a 990N. She states she went to Tanzania in 2008, apparently to open a school. So, the question is where did the money to open a school come from? If it went through her 501(c)3 in operation then, there should have been a filing showing that. Additionally there appears to be a misunderstanding of 501(c)3 reporting requirements. If the organization has expected gross receipts in excess of $50,000 they must file the full Form 990 including compensation to critical staff (ie Director) and highest paid employees. If their gross receipts are less than $50,000 they STILL have to file, but it is the 990-N postcard. For those who are curious you are encouraged to check the IRS Exempt Organizations database to see if you can find a filing, 990 or 990-N, at any time by Black Lives Matter VT”.
Ebony Nyoni is atanding next to her poster with a quote from Assata Shakur , AKA JoAnne Chesimard………………. is a former member of the Black Liberation Army, a black nationalist urban guerrilla group, who was convicted in 1977 of the first-degree murder, under New Jersey’s “aiding and abetting” statute, of State Trooper Werner Foerster during a shootout on the New Jersey Turnpike in 1973. She escaped from prison in 1979 and fled to Cuba, where she was granted political asylum.
SevenDays, you never write good things about Ebony. Its clear you have problems with her being a leader. Now youre bashing her leadership to discredit her. Whenever it comes to black leaders/ activists, you always have to paint dirty picture of them in the media to make them look bad. It is clear you are NOT for the success and liberation of BLACK PEOPLE. This article is clearly biased towards Ebony. Why bring up something that has nothing to do with her campaign? Whenever a black persons runs for something, especially a black women, you reporters go out of your way to dig up every dirt you can find possible to make them seem they are incapable of being in an important position. The person interviewed in this interview, Keren Sita, will say bad things about her, because she has personal issues with Ebony. Why not interview those who know her well? Ebony has been attacked by everyone, including you, time and again because you do not want a black women, running a black organization to succeed. You do not know Ebony. None of you haters do. You hear stories about her, and sheepishly follow that story without getting to know her personally. Therefore, you only know of ebony of what so and so said, and what articles like this say about her. You fear her because she is not afraid to tell people how it is. She does not sugar coat anything for you. She tells the truth like it is, and you guys can not handle it. Instead, you follow beautiful lies told by Sita, and wrote by Molly Walsh. If she does not get elected, that just proves winooski is not ready for a strong black woman leader. Which, to my opinion, would be a great loss.
Part 1
I have mixed feelings about article. When Ebony announced she was running, I was excited because I knew her as a leader in the community on important and under represented issues. I found it encouraging to have someone stepping up to lead who could represent segments of the population whose voices more often than not don’t have direct representation in leadership.
When I read this article, the piece that stood out was Ebony’s use of social media to shame another woman for sexual relations. This had two factors for me: 1) I don’t support women who shame or degrade other women (even if it comes from a place of personal loss or hurt) and 2) publicly shaming like this shows poor judgement as a candidate, something we have condemned public officials for.
Part 2
As to the shaming another woman: I am all for supporting and uplifting black women, especially when they are working to better the community. However, here we get into intersectionality. As it is not okay for a white woman to only preach feminism for white woman, it’s not okay for a gay man to trash trans people, so is it not okay for a black woman to bash another woman for her sexuality.
And to the public posting of the comment: candidates and public officials are held to a higher standard. We have seen several white men in public office in Chittenden County get in trouble recently for using social media inappropriately (including racial slurs, contacting inappropriate people through official means, etc). Even the Editor of the Burlington Free Press got fired for transphobic comments he made on social media. Social media is now looked at as a public forum. If you grab a microphone and use it to tell people someone is a slut, you are going to be scrutinized yourself.
Here is where I have mixed feelings though: as a black woman, Ebony will (and this is shown by imperial evidence through studies) face a harsher reaction than someone who did the exact same thing who was white and/or male. The exact thing she is fighting against and her victory to city council would help change, even if only by a little.
I think Ebony Nyoni is a well intentioned activist who herself is hurting (and understandable so). She lives with racism and has astute awareness of the dynamics of racism in our community. As such, the urgency she acts with is authentic, valid, and contributes to her approach, which can be misunderstood and labeled as that which it is not intended to be, in part, due to her being a black woman. Black people do not engage in racial justice work because we desire to do so. We engage in racial justice work because it is a necessity. It is not enjoyable, quite the contrary.
With the above said, I am concerned about the media’s misuse of power. As is clear in this article, three black people’s personal and/or legal matters are exposed while a white candidate presents as not having personal or legal matters. This does not mean the white candidate does or doesn’t have unsavory personal matters/characteristics or that she has or hasn’t engaged in behavior that would warrant legal attention. It means that the media is an extension of a system of oppression that does harm to black and brown lives in a way that it doesn’t do harm to white lives. It means that our court and media systems are impacted by a legacy of racism/unconscious bias, which is why people of color comprise less than 1% of the state’s population and almost 11% of the state’s prisons. Whether one desires to acknowledge this or not, it remains true.
Seven Days, you must do better for the sake of humanity. I’m sorry this story was printed. It serves no positive purpose.
Actually, Ms. Garrison, Ms. Nyoni appears to have monetized her “social justice work” and made a business of it. Also you are advocating that one candidate be given as much benefit of the doubt as possible due the color of her skin, and the worst be assumed of another due to the color of her skin. Last time I checked there’s a word for that.
Patrick Cashman, precisely NOT what I am saying, advocating, or would ever advocate, which is why it is so important that my words were said. Educating about the impact of our culture’s unconscious bias (legacy of racism) is the purpose of my post. We do not exist in an equitable culture and people who view what they desire (or are able) to view through the lens of white privilege (as you did) benefit from being exposed to the truth of my comment. It might be helpful if you reread my comment. All my best to you. Please know I will not respond further, as I am reclaiming my time.
The conviction of Assata Shakur was very shakey. She had a broken bone that would have made
holding a gun difficult or impossible. She was shot twice by the NJ troopers. It’s not believable that she killed the trooper. …Though i guess we will never know the full extent of what happened as she has fled the US and is living in the Carribean.
Patrick, the amounts of money involved are very small. Most professionals earn about 20x what Ebony has in the last year.
It’s hardly the case of the year. I doubt that the money in question will even be anywhere hear what the court costs will be.
While there may or may not be wrongdoing, if there was, this whole thing is just incredibly petty. The only thing that makes it even remotely newsworthy is the fact that Eb is running for office.
Vicki,
Of course that’s what you’re advocating, you just may have trouble seeing it as you believe yourself immune. Let’s review:
1. You assume Ms. Nyoni is being treated unfairly (against) due to the color of her skin.
2. You assume a different candidate is being treated unfairly (in favor) due to the color of her skin.
3. You assume pure and clean motives for Ms. Nyoni’s questionable antics due to the color of her skin.
5. In the complete absence of any indicators, you imply that another candidate must have a skeleton in her closet that the press is just choosing not to report because of the color of her skin, and undoubtedly some massive conspiracy.
And then you double down by presuming to be able to speak knowledgeably about the experience of all “white” people by endorsing this belief of “white privilege”. It’s Winooski, there are more than a few families who could really use some of that “white privilege” and who wouldn’t take great comfort in the idea that; sure, they may be poor and unable to afford heating oil but larger demographic trends tend to indicate a bias towards some not statistically insignificant greater likelihood of some benefit to being white if a population of the US and no larger or smaller is examined, so they should get in the back of the line and hush up.
As I said; there is a word for that.
Marina,
I assure you I have minimal interest in the small claims case. Though a link to the note in the body of the article would be nice strictly for morbid and gossipy curiosity. I’m more concerned about compliance with guidelines for 501(c)3 organizations. If what is described in the article is true there appear to be years worth of filings missing for the “God’s Love Demonstrated Ministries”, and if her statement “If I needed to file I would have filed” indicates she has not filed a 990N for BLM, then more years of filings are missing. You can check for 990-Ns yourself at https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos/ePostSearch.d…
On a side note I’m also a little concerned that:
1. BLM has a registration with the SecState as a 501(c)3, but to the best of my searching doesn’t appear in the IRS database of exempt organizations or appear to have an EIN. If they were to simply list their EIN on their webpage, (or respond as legally required to requests for their foundational documents) then maybe such concerns could be alleviated but Ms. Nyoni doesn’t appear to be motivated to do so.
2. The “Donate” and “Volunteer in the Store” portions of her website ask potential volunteers for their “Self Identified Race” and whether or not they are a “POC”. People so obsessed with skin color, their own or others, bear watching.
Patrick,
It is clear that you are not capeable of understanding what Vicky and Marina have tried to explain. What is more concerning is that you arent even trying.
I started reading this to understand critisism I was seeing on Facebook. I had to atop reading because I felt like a voyeur. That says it all. This is irrisponsible and disrespectful on many levels, all outlined in previous comments.
Jamila,
On the contrary, I completely understand what they are saying and proposing, I just don’t buy it.