On March 21, between 200 and 250 people rallied and marched in downtown Brattleboro to demand the release of three members of Justicia Migrante/Migrant Justice detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) the week before and the end to ICE targeting of human rights organizers.
Community members at the demonstration added their names to petitions to free Alex Carrillo, Enrique (Kike) Balcazar, and Zully Palacios as well as to petitions to support the passing of Vermont's Racial Justice Reform bills (H.492 and S.116). They raised nearly $700 for Migrant Justice.
The short-notice demonstration was co-organized by the Root Social Justice Center, Lost River Racial Justice, Brattleboro Solidarity, Green Mountain Crossroads, and the Vermont Workers' Center, and it was supported by many others.
Representatives from these groups spoke about the important work that Migrant Justice has done in Vermont and played clips of its organizers speaking about the recent detentions and ongoing resistance and campaigns at the rally the prior Saturday.
With all due respect to the author, I feel compelled to respond directly to the numerous claims, assumptions and accusations put forth by Byron Stookey [“Should the arts really shape place?,” Viewpoint, Oct. 23]. As someone who grew up with extremely humble circumstances in Springfield, Mass., during decades of...