Abolishing Slavery 

The 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1865, prohibits slavery within the United States “except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted.” Increasingly, we are coming to understand how this exception clause has been used to create the revenue generating prison industrial complex through the criminalization of poverty and the racialization of the criminal justice system. This exception clause was modeled after Vermont’s constitution.

Proposal 2 (PR.2), is a Vermont Constitutional Amendment prohibiting slavery and indentured servitude.  Constitutionally abolishing slavery and indentured servitude in Vermont rejects the exception clause in the 13^th amendment of the US Constitution.  This proposal is at the foundation of eradicating systemic racism. Despite numerous revisions, the Vermont Constitution has never completely prohibited slavery.

As Vermont pushes back on federal encroachments on reproductive rights, immigration and cannabis, we must say no to slavery! Demand with us that PR.2 be taken up for testimony and Public Hearing.

Send an email to the House Government Operations Committee and ask them to take action:  vermont-house-government-operations@googlegroups.com

Addressing Economic Inequalities Caused by Systemic Racism

A product of slavery, systemic racism maintains economic inequality along racial lines. Nearly a quarter of Black Vermonters live in poverty and the median wealth of a black family is at 1/13th (and widening) of that of a white family.

Please join us in our request to the House Committee on General, Housing and Military Affairs. We’re asking that the bill H.406 be referred to the House Committees on Economic Development and Human Services for action. The bill offers practical and immediate solutions to addressing some of the economic inequities caused by systemic racism. We must take action in addressing economic inequity caused by systemic racism. The current budget surplus affords us an unprecedented opportunity to do so.

Send an email to House General, Housing and Military Affairs: vermont-house-general-housing-military-affairs@vtracialjusticealliance.org

Please also reach out to legislative leadership and ask them to support the work of abolishing slavery and addressing the economic inequalities caused by systemic racism:

Senate President Pro Temp Sen Becca Ballint, bbalint@leg.state.vt.us
Speaker of the House, RepJilll Krowinski, jkrowinski@leg.state.vt.us

Last year the legislature committed to doing the “sustained and deep work of eradicating systemic racism throughout the State, actively fighting racist practices, and participating in the creation of more just and equitable systems…” in Act R-113.  We’re asking them to keep their commitments to this sustained and deep work.  Far too often have our nation’s hopes of true liberty and justice landed hollow as aspirational rhetoric. This is a defining moment where silence speaks loudly. Please follow through on the call to action to help us eradicate systemic racism and make Vermont better for everyone.

Thank you for your support,

Vermont Racial Justice Alliance Team