Law

End Qualified Immunity - Rally at Ben and Jerry's on Church Street 03/02/2022

Advocates, Legislators and Ben and Jerry's co-founders gather on Church Street demanding an end to qualified immunity for law enforcement officers in Vermont.

From VPIRG:

"Qualified immunity is an unjust legal doctrine that effectively closes the courtroom doors to victims of police abuses of power. Advocates, VT Legislators, and Ben & Jerry’s co-founders will be on Church Street demanding that the the Vermont Legislature pass legislation that would help restore victims’ access to justice. Among the list of speakers is Duane Peterson, a former police officer who co-founded the solar company SunCommon and currently serves as a member of VPIRG’s Board of Trustees."

Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale (Chittenden District)
Rep. Selene Colburn (Chittenden-6-4)
Zoraya Hightower, Executive Director of the Peace & Justice Center and Burlington City Councilor
Mia Schultz, president of the Rutland Area Branch of the NAACP
Kiah Morris, Executive Director, Rights and Democracy
Rev. Mark Hughes, Executive Director of Vermont Racial Justice Alliance
Duane Peterson, founder of SunCommon, former police officer, and VPIRG Board member
Jerry Greenfield, co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s and co-chair of the Campaign to End Qualified Immunity
Ben Cohen, co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s and co-chair of the Campaign to End Qualified Immunity

VICII: Policing the City 02/28/2022

From VICII:

"Join the Vermont Institute of Community and International Involvement and the People's Law School on Zoom for a discussion and an update on Policing in the City. We will discuss this issue with Jon Murad, the acting chief of police in Burlington.

Policing remains a top priority for most Americans as we approach the election cycle, both in Town Meetings in Vermont in March, and the midterms in November in the rest of the country. In Burlington the lack of an appointment of a permanent chief of police and the continuation of the acting Chief Jon Murad roiled the City for weeks and will greatly influence the voters who select their city representatives on Tuesday; in the nation rising crime rates will greatly influence voters as they cast their ballots in November for their Senators and Congresspersons."

For more information: vicii.org

Burlington Mayor's Press Conference: Mayor Weinberger Provides Update on Mask Mandate and COVID Response 02/25/2022

Mayor Weinberger and others share an update on the City’s COVID response and the Council’s action to end the mask mandate on March 3.

Burlington Police Commission 02/22/2022

For more information on the Burlington Police Commission and its current procedures and meeting dates, please visit burlingtonvt.gov/Police/Police-Commission.

Essex Junction Independence Moments - Annie Cooper with Village of Essex Junction Trustee Vice President Raj Chawla 02/16/2022

Annie Cooper interviews Village of Essex Junction Trustee Vice President Raj Chawla about H. 491, an act relating to the creation of the City of Essex Junction and the adoption of the City charter.

From Annie:

"H. 491 - An act relating to the creation of the City of Essex Junction and the adoption of the City charter, passes House Committee on Ways and Means, unanimously! It's such a good feeling to have that work recognized, especially with the unanimous vote. Per our state representatives, Rep. Lori Houghton and Rep. Karen Dolan, H. 491 is, indeed, headed to the House Floor for a full vote this Friday."

Raj Chawla:

"To be able to have the community see that what they asked for, what they've been working for...for so many people have been pushing this through."

"From the get-go on this effort, on this Independence effort, staff produced a very intentional and participatory process that was inclusive. We had great support from the community, largely in the form of Our Village Our Voices to really engage and make sure people were well informed and could offer input."

"We've known for quite some time, I think, who we are as a village and what we want to be. And I don't think that's changed. We just had to look around and say, this is so important to us that we're going to do it, regardless. We're just going to move forward. I think it's exciting."

Essex Junction Independence Moments - Annie Cooper with Essex Junction State Representatives Lori Houghton and Karen Dolan 02/13/2022

Annie Cooper interviews State Representatives Lori Houghton and Karen Dolanabout H. 491, an act relating to the creation of the City of Essex Junction and the adoption of the City charter.

From Annie:

Essex Junction State Representatives Rep. Lori Houghton & Rep. Karen Dolan speak to:

1. Where is the bill at? What's happening with the charter change?
2. What can I do? What can I do to keep the momentum going?

From Lori Houghton:

"It's everyone here today that has got us to this point: It is a total team effort. But there are so many people from the past who took step after step after step. People who are no longer with us, people who have moved out of the community; and I feel like it took every single effort that has happened, to this day, to make this be the right time that this can happen. So I just want to make sure we are appreciative of all the work that has gone in from those before us."

From Karen Dolan:

"Collaboration is the big thing with this charter change. Everybody is ready to come to the table to pitch in and do the work. That's what we're seeing at the state house, too. When we present things folks are like: Wow. This is very thorough. You've thought of all the pieces. You have all the things in place."

Education and Enrichment for Everyone: First They Came for the Judges - The Unfinished Story of the Afghan Women Judges Association, Their Evacuation from Afghanistan and Their Connection to Vermont 02/11/2022

A presentation from Patricia Whalen, Director of the Vermont Afghan Women Judges Education Project; former International Judge, War Crimes Chamber, Bosnia and Herzegovina; Vermont Judiciary (Retired).

For more information: eeevermont.org

VICII: Roe v. Wade - A Victory for Women and Girls 02/09/2022

From VICII:

"Roe v. Wade decided by the United States Supreme Court in 1973 was a victory based on the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution, Roe guaranteed that "persons born in the United States are citizens of the United States and that no State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

Under this historic amendment passed during Reconstruction after the Civil War in 1868, which guaranteed to freed formerly enslaved persons citizenship, women being born are persons and therefore citizens of the United States and the State in which they reside and are therefore entitled to have their rights to life and liberty respected and guaranteed by the State. Roe v. Wade stated that women and girls were moral agents and citizens who had the right to make their own medical decisions free of government interference.

Justine Snow, Esq., is an attorney and Public Defender in Florida. She is a graduate of Burlington College in Vermont and a graduate of Southern Coastal Law School in Florida. She is a scholar who studies the Constitution and practices law to make constitutional liberties a reality."

For more information: vicii.org

Essex Junction Independence Moments - Annie Cooper with Andrew Brown, Village of Essex Junction Trustee President 02/01/2022

Annie Cooper interviews Andrew Brown, City of Essex Junction Trustee President, about H. 491, an act relating to the creation of the City of Essex Junction and the adoption of the City charter.

From Andrew Brown:

"We are now one step closer to the City of Essex Junction being created."

New North End Town Hall with Chief-Select Jon Murad 01/30/2022

A community opportunity to meet and conduct an informal interview of the Burlington Police Chief candidate acting Chief Jon Murad. Hosted by Councilor Ali Dieng with over 75 Burlington residents, City Councilors and Burlington Police Commissioners participating in an open online forum.

Featured Story

Summer Video Production Internship - Applications Open

Town Meeting TV is hiring two paid interns to join our production team for the summer! The program will run from Monday, June 24th until Friday, August 16th (8 weeks). $17 an hour, approximately 8 hours per week. We are looking for folks who have basic or intermediate experience with video recording and editing on Adobe Premiere. Interns will work with the Town Meeting TV Co-Directors to pick stories or events that they would like to cover in our community, practice outreach skills, then shoot and edit video that will be broadcasted on Town Meeting TV's YouTube and cable channels. Interested applicants should send their resume and cover letter (including why they are interested in this position and any relevant experience) to Jordan at jmitchell@cctv.org. Applications close Friday, May 24th at 5:00PM. For more information, please contact outreach@cctv.org or call 802-862-3966.

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