We didn’t want to let this year come to an end without highlighting some of the many civil liberties victories we celebrated this year. While the challenges we face are daunting, our accomplishments over the past year show how much is possible when we work together for a more just, inclusive, and equitable Vermont. Below you’ll find some of our highlights from 2024 – thank you for making them possible!
JANUARY
Alongside End Homelessness Vermont and other advocates, we launched our Housing First Vermont campaign and released a plan for evidence-based solutions to end homelessness in our state -- which now has the second-highest rate of homelessness in the country. That plan is centered on a federally-backed strategy called Housing First, which guarantees shelter to anyone who needs it, free from conditions or restrictions.
MARCH
We settled a complaint with Twin Valley School District on behalf of our client, C.B., a Black student who was subjected to severe and ongoing racial harassment, and whose concerns were not addressed by school officials. We are hopeful that this case will motivate other school districts to better support the many children who continue to experience racist bullying.
JUNE
We celebrated the passage of H.72—a bill establishing Vermont’s first Overdose Prevention Center—in the legislature’s veto override session in June. This life-saving harm reduction strategy is a key tool in addressing Vermont’s record-setting opioid crisis, and we look forward to following the course of its implementation in the year ahead.
Our client Gregory Bombard reached a $175,000 settlement agreement with the Vermont State Police in connection to an unconstitutional retaliatory arrest in 2018, highlighting the overly broad authority police have in our communities—and on our roadways—and affirming that police must respect everyone’s First Amendment rights, even for things they consider offensive or insulting.
In June, we also filed a lawsuit against the Essex County Sheriff’s Department seeking access to records related to their immigration-related practices. Comments made by Sheriff Colby in December 2023 implied the department may be violating Vermont’s Fair & Impartial Policing Policy, designed to stop local police from colluding with federal immigration agents.
JULY
We sued the Scott administration for records related to the Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee, which we believe could shed light on political interference by Phil Scott’s administration to undermine the legislature’s response to Vermont’s devastating opioid epidemic.
AUGUST
We received a favorable ruling in our police abuse case, filed on behalf of a 14-year-old Black youth with disabilities. The City of Burlington’s attempt to dismiss our lawsuit was rejected on all counts – including the notorious defense of “qualified immunity” -- allowing our case to move forward.
In 2021, Burlington police and paramedics needly escalated a routine interaction with then 14-year-old J.A., used excessive force, injected him with a powerful sedative called ketamine, and forcibly removed him from his home.
SEPTEMBER
After state leaders failed to address Vermont’s homelessness crisis, thousands of Vermonters were needlessly unsheltered from the state’s emergency housing program, with fatal consequences. We published a letter to municipalities urging respect for the rights and liberties of all Vermonters and outlining their legal obligations to unhoused community members, and we will continue advocating for access to emergency housing.
OCTOBER
Our outreach team hosted a series of “Freedom To Be” events uplifting Vermont’s queer and trans community. From St. Alban’s to Bennington, we visited communities across the state to host events that centered queer and trans joy and engaged in a collective art project that ACLU affiliates across the country are partnering to produce. Stay tuned for its unveiling in DC next year!
NOVEMBER
The people of Vermont sent 47 Smart Justice candidates to the state legislature, showing yet again that Vermonters want their representatives to invest in people, not prisons. We look forward to partnering with these lawmakers to reduce overreliance on incarceration and invest in solutions to the root causes of harm in our communities.
DECEMBER
Following the election, with ACLU affiliates across the country we launched our Firewall for Freedom, a plan for state leaders to help protect civil liberties under a second Trump term. We encourage you to sign our petition and urge lawmakers to advance these critically important policies -- and help spread the word!
LOOKING TO NEXT YEAR
As we prepare for a second Trump term, we are ready to push back against attacks on the rights and dignity of our fellow Vermonters. Our work would not be possible without your support. If you are in a position to make a financial contribution to this work, we hope you will consider making a one-time or recurring donation today. Learn more and donate at acluvt.org/donate.