FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 1, 2025
Contact: Emily Hagan-Howe, Communications Director, ACLU of Vermont, [email protected], 802-243-3339
Montpelier, VT—A diverse, statewide group of 119 Vermont businesses, nonprofits, and faith communities published an open letter to Governor Scott and state lawmakers today, urging them to use the power of elected office to support and protect Vermonters from harmful and unconstitutional federal actions. The letter comes in response to unprecedented attacks on constitutional rights, state and local government autonomy, and the nation’s civic infrastructure.
Signatories include faith communities; non-profit organizations working in public health, the environment, civil rights, agriculture, and economic development; unions; libraries; and businesses from a wide range of sectors.
Jen Kimmich, CEO and co-founder of The Alchemist Brewery: “Our friends and neighbors are being targeted right now, and people are rightfully scared and upset. We need clear and consistent assurances from our state leaders that they will do all they can to prevent harm to our communities—and we need them to take action in defense of our laws and our values.”
The letter describes an “onslaught of federal overreach,” including “unlawful attacks on immigrants, transgender people, and dissidents; threats to the autonomy of institutions to confront discrimination; the undermining of essential environmental protections; and the destabilization of civic infrastructure on which we all rely.”
Signatories are calling on the governor and state legislators to publicly commit to using the full power of their office to protect Vermont’s immigrant communities; secure the rights of trans people; strengthen abortion access; defend constitutional rights to protest; safeguard privacy; preserve environmental protections; and ensure Vermont’s independence from federal overreach.
The letter cites Vermont traditions of “Freedom and Unity” and the state’s proud history as a leader in defending democratic values. It comes as state policymakers are considering a number of bills that could further strengthen Vermont’s existing protections, and ahead of a Hands Off! state house rally on Saturday at noon in Montpelier, part of a nationwide mass mobilization this weekend.
Jill Martin Diaz, Executive Director, Vermont Asylum Assistance Project: “Vermont has become a leader in advancing civil rights and civil liberties at the state level. There are several bills under consideration this year that would continue in that tradition and counter extreme threats from the federal government. State leaders recognize the urgency of the situation, and we ask that they prioritize these necessary protections for vulnerable Vermonters.”
Other civil society leaders are also speaking out. The Vermont Bar Association (VBA) membership last week endorsed a statement by the VBA Board of Managers, stating in part: “The VBA condemns acts that undermine our democratic checks and balances and denounces attacks upon the judiciary. We express our unwavering support for an independent judiciary. Respect for the rule of law is essential to the functioning of our democratic society, justice, and the protection of individual rights and liberties.”
As of Monday morning, 119 Vermont organizations had signed the letter, which was delivered to the governor and state legislators on Monday afternoon. The letter will remain open for organizational signatures at this link, and the list of signatories will be updated periodically.
Rev. Joan Javier-Duval, Unitarian Church of Montpelier: “So many of our community members have already been impacted by these attacks on our laws and our values. Vermonters need reassurance and concrete actions by state leaders. This is Vermont, and we will support and protect one another no matter what happens.”
The letter is available here, signed by the following organizations:
ACLU of Vermont
The Alchemist
Another Way, Inc.
The Barre Universalist Church
Bridgeside Books
Building A Local Economy (BALE)
Cabot Public Library
Cathedral Square
Cavendish-Fletcher Community Library
Center for Whole Communities
Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity
Charlotte Congregational Church, UCC
Christ Episcopal Church, Montpelier
Cobleigh Library
Common Good Vermont
Community Asylum Seekers Project
Community TEACH (Tutoring, Enrichment, and Career Hub)
Cooperation Vermont
CQ Strategies, LCC
Dorset Village Public Library
Earthfire Abbey
Education Justice Coalition of Vermont
Elevate Youth Services
Episcopal Diocese of Vermont
Essex Center United Methodist Church
Essex Connects
Fiddleheads Cuisine
First Baptist Church, Burlington, VT
First Unitarian Universalist Society Burlington
First United Methodist Church of Brattleboro Beloved Community
Fletcher Memorial Library
FreeHer VT
Friends of Lanpher Memorial Library
Grafton Public Library
Green Mountain Performing Arts
Green Mountain Timber Frames
Greensboro United Church of Christ
Gristmill Builders
Howe Library at University of Vermont
Hunter Studio
Indivisible – Bennington County
Indivisible – Brattleboro
Indivisible – Calais
Indivisible – Hardwick
Indivisible – Mad River Valley
Indivisible – Middlebury
Indivisible – Montpelier Strong
Indivisible – Northeast Addison County
Kiah Morris LLC
Lake Champlain Maritime Museum
Latham Memorial Library
Leaves of Change VT
Love University
The Magic Bean Farm
Mary L Blood Library West Windsor VT
Middletown Springs Library
Migrant Justice
Montpelier Alive
Morristown Centennial Library
MovingTrue
Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont (NOFA-VT)
NorthWoods Stewardship Center
nuwave Equity Corporation
Outright Vermont
Planned Parenthood Vermont Action Fund
Points North Sports & Regenerative PT
Pride Center of Vermont
Public Assets Institute
Rainbow Bridge Community Center
ReBop Records
Red Hen Baking Company
The Red Barn Writer
Rhino Foods, Inc.
Rights & Democracy
Rochester Public Library
Rutland Area NAACP
Rutland Free Library
SafeArt
SHARe (Supporting and Helping Asylees and Refugees)
Sherburne Memorial Library
St. Barnabas Church
St. John's Episcopal Church, Randolph
St. James Episcopal Church
St. Peter's Episcopal Church
Stowe Street Cafe
SUSU commUNITY Farm
Unitarian Church of Montpelier
Unitarian Universalist Church of Rutland, VT
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Bennington
Vermont Asylum Assistance Project (VAAP)
Vermont Chapter of the Sierra Club
Vermont Citizens United for the Rehabilitation of Errants (VT CURE)
Vermont Community Thermal Networks
Vermont Conference, United Church of Christ
Vermont Conservation Voters
Vermont Early Childhood Advocacy Alliance
Vermont Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals
Vermont Green Football Club
Vermont Interfaith Action
Vermont Library Association
Vermont Natural Resources Council
Vermont-NEA
Vermont New Americans Advisory Council (VNAAC)
Vermont Parent Child Center Network
Vermont Public Interest Research Group
Vermont River Conservancy
Vermont School Library Association
Vermont State College Libraries
Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund
Vermont Works for Women
Veterans for Peace
Voices for Vermont's Children
W.R. Metalarts, LLC
Waterbury Area Anti Racism Coalition (WAARC)
Waterbury Historical Society
Waterbury Together
White River Junction Pride
Windham County NAACP
Women's International League for Peace and Freedom - Burlington branch