Solidarity Statement & Rally in Burlington TODAY at 3PM
CVRAN stands in solidarity with all striking workers today.
Our communities are unequivocally voicing our collective opposition to the unconscionable actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) in Minnesota, Maine, and across our country. ICE cannot continue to terrorize communities, separate families, cause mental and physical harm and even death to both immigrants and American citizens. We are sending a message today that we will not stand idly by and conduct business as usual in Vermont. The people of Minneapolis organized the largest general strike in 80 years, and there is hope that today’s many rallies across Vermont and the US will have record-breaking turnout to oppose ICE’s intimidation and violence against our friends and family.
Vermonters are getting organized, talking to our neighbors and friends about the work being done by Migrant Justice, Vermont Asylum Assistance Project, CVRAN and beyond, and we have had an outpouring of support, both financial and volunteer contributions. We thank you, as always, for your steady support of CVRAN’s work and the immigrant communities of Central Vermont. Schools, churches, businesses, and families are all making plans to protect their people should the level of enforcement currently seen in MN reach VT. We hope that day will not come, but we must prepare in case of the worst. CVRAN is doing all that we can do to prepare effective protocols without causing undue fear, and we are systematically training and re-training our volunteers on our rapid response procedures, so stay tuned for more info from us shortly. Vermont lawmakers like Rep. Becca Balint are hearing from Vermonters and staunchly representing us in the national conversation, saying “I have heard overwhelmingly from Vermonters on the phones here and in DC, they do not want additional funding to go to ICE at this moment, because it must be dismantled, restructured.” Our demands are simple: ICE out of EVERYWHERE.
CVRAN will have a presence at the rally at Burlington City Hall today at 3PM and hope to see some of you there if you are able to make the trek north. Please be cautious as there is potential for increased law enforcement and/or ICE presence in Chittenden County today. Regardless of where you are or what you’re doing today, please use your voice to spread the word that we will not tolerate ICE’s actions in Minnesota or Vermont, and as our Governor has said, “enough is enough.”