Prop 2

Neighborhood Media Internship Program: Stand-Up Interviews about Props 2 & 5 10/13/2022

The Neighborhood Media Interns take to the street to ask the Burlington Public about Propositions on the ballot.

The Juxtaposition: Vermont, the First State to Abolish Slavery-ish 10/12/2022

From the Vermont Racial Justice Alliance:

Amending the Vermont Constitution is an incredibly long and arduous process. The road to prohibit slavery through this process has been exponentially longer. First, why is Vermont prohibiting slavery if it was already abolished? Second, what was the process that led us here? Finally, what will the impact of prohibiting slavery be in Vermont in moving forward?

Homework: Read Article 1 of the Vermont Constitution (30 seconds)

The Vermont Racial Justice Alliance remains committed to prohibiting slavery and indentured servitude in all forms in Vermont. The existing slavery exception clauses in Vermont constitution are NOT symbolic but carry the same weight as any other language in our constitution and therefore MUST be amended with prohibition language. We're grateful that the constitutional amendment process in Vermont (one of the most comprehensive in the nation) has afforded this State the due diligence required for such an important matter. Never having been a State (or nation) where slavery hasn't existed leaves us uncertain of the impact that this constitutional amendment will have over time, but we know that it is morally right to constitutioinally prohibit slavery. We do know that this reprehensible crime against humanity has left us with the insidious monster of systemic racism and we remain committed to eradicating it on all fronts. This constitutional amendment is a part of that process and will serve as a memorial in perpetuity.

Proposition 2 - Prohibition of Slavery in Vermont 101 09/22/2022

From Vermont Racial Justice Alliance:

Are you interested in learning more about Proposition 2, the constitutional amendment to prohibit slavery in Vermont?

This session provides much needed background to help us understand why it is NECASSARY to amend the Vermont Constitution to prohibit slavery in all forms. We’ll provide details on the legislative, public and executive processes that have taken place to bring us to this important stage of the process of constitutionally prohibiting slavery in all forms in the State of Vermont.

The Juxtaposition: Hiding Behind Objectivity 07/13/2022

From the Vermont Racial Justice Alliance:

Think of all of the time and money directed to training, education and consulting on the issue of systemic racism. Consider all of the public policy work and community oriented action currently underway. Why are we still doing this in 2022? Why can’t we win on racial justice and equity? Are we missing something? An NPR/Ipsos Poll indicates that 50 percent of White people do not believe that systemic racism exists. Amongst those, it’s less clear how many of them are actually doing something about it. How do we win in today’s climate of ongoing backlash knowing that part of our team is Hiding Behind Objectivity?

We’re joined by Vincent Mitchell, Director of Student Culture, Vermont Racial Justice Alliance.

This episode of The Juxtaposition won a Hometown Media Award for Racial Justice and Civil Rights Programming Independent Producer at the 2023 Alliance for Community Media.

Vermont Racial Justice Alliance: Abolish Slavery Vermont Proposal 2 Campaign Launch 06/17/2022

From Vermont Racial Justice Alliance:

Allies and leaders from Vermont Racial Justice Alliance and Vermont Interfaith Action hold a press conference to launch the Abolish Slavery Vermont Campaign, calling on Vermonters to vote “Yes” on Proposal 2, the constitutional amendment stating that slavery and indentured servitude are prohibited in all forms. This question will be on the ballot in November. While Vermonters and the nation have been taught for generations that the state was the first to abolish slavery we now know that that no state constitutioanlly permitted slavery before Vermont. Vermont’s constitution permits slavery of folks under age 21 and individuals bound by their own consent. The Vermont constitution has also always permitted the enslavement of those bound for payment of debts, damages, fines, costs or “the like.” Exception clauses of 25 other state constitutions and the Thirteenth Amendment have been informed by these exception clauses in the Vermont Constitution, leading to the introduction of convict leasing in the US.

The Aboilsh Slavery Vermont Campaign focusses on human rights and connects the institution of slavery to its legacy - systemic racism. Mark Hughes, Executive Director of Vermont Racial Justice Alliance and the catalyst for the amendment, stated, “Political and economic inequality along racial lines and across all society exist today because of the legacy of slavery. This amendment goes to the heart of a 245 year old crime against humanity.” It also addresses the existence of and the ongoing impact of the thirteenth amendment exception clause. The thirteenth amendment exception clause has led to prison (industry) proliferation, skyrocketing incarceration and hugely disproportionate numbers of Black Americans being locked up.

The Juxtaposition: Running Victory Laps in a Race That’s Not Over 06/08/2022

From the Vermont Racial Justice Alliance:

Last year Juneteenth was declared a national holiday. How do we reconcile that with the ongoing efforts in Vermont and nationally to abolish slavery? Join us as we navigate a discussion to unpack the truth about our US history with slavery and hear from some of the abolitionists doing the work in other states and at the national level NOW in 2022.

Guest list:
Curtis Davis
ED, Decarcerate Louisiana
Author, Slave State Evidence of Apartheid in America
mindfield416@gmail.com

Max Parthes
max@abolishslavery.us
Acting Director for the Paul Cuffee Abolitionist Center in Sumpter,
National Campaign Coordinator for the Abolish Slavery National Network
Co-host/Executive producer of Abolition Today

Jamilia Land and Sam Brown
jamilialand@gmail.com
sam.nathaniel.brown@gmail.com
Co founders, Antiviolence Safety and Accountability Project (A.S.A.P)
Chairs of the California Abolition Act Coalition

Vermont Interfaith Action: Abolish Slavery Vermont 05/17/2022

Debbie Ingram, Executive Director of VIA, and Josh Simon, Board President, interview Mark Hughes, Executive Director of Vermont Racial Justice Alliance, about the history of slavery in Vermont and efforts to pass Proposal 2 and remove slavery from the Vermont constitution.

More information at: (802) 651-8889 | office@viavt.org | www.viavt.org

The Juxtaposition: The Juxtaposition Promo 05/11/2022

From the Vermont Racial Justice Alliance:

Join Mark Hughes on the second Wednesday of every month for The Juxtaposition -- a live conversation about issues impacting Black Vermonters.

The Juxtaposition: Freedom and Unity 05/11/2022

From the Vermont Racial Justice Alliance:

There is general agreement that Vermont's motto is about the idea of balancing two seemingly opposite ideals: the personal freedom and independence of the individual citizen, with the common good of the larger community. Article 1 of the Vermont Constitution states that "all persons are born equally free and independent, and have certain natural, inherent, and unalienable rights." How do we reconcile that with the fact that Vermont was the first state to ever constitutionalize slavery.

Our guest is Debbie Ingram, Executive Director of Vermont Interfaith Action.

Featured Story

Applications Now Open for the Spring 2025 Cohort of the Neighborhood Community Media Internship Program

Town Meeting TV is excited to announce that applications are now open for the Spring 2025 cohort of the Neighborhood Community Media Internship program. Join up to 8 other youth to engage in interesting media making projects! This paid media internship opportunity is designed for youth aged 16-20 who are eager to gain professional experience in the audio-visual field and develop a deeper understanding of their local community. The group will meet under the leadership of Town Meeting TV's Travis Washington from the end of January 2025 to the beginning of June 2025, on a schedule agreed upon by the whole cohort. Click here to apply!