We previously expressed disappointment with the legislature hurriedly addressing the “criminal justice reform” before recess and we we reject their priorities now being that of primarily policing, particularly in light of the fact that they have demonstrated no political will to hold law enforcement accountable. We have provided our priorities to legislative leadership. We face serious challenges in making any meaningful progress if our legislature (with a supermajority in both chambers) is unwilling to move forward on these priorities at a time SUCH AS THIS!
Provide COVID-19 Targeted Relief for Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color (BIPOC) in Vermont
Ask the legislative leadership, Government Operations Committees and the Senate Chair of Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs to advance the Vermont Racial Justice Alliance priorities.
S.54, the Cannabis taxation and regulation bill is in Conference Committee. Despite our best efforts in testimony in Senate Judiciary and House Government Operations, the bill largely ignores the legislature’s responsibility to use S.54 as a tool to walk back the harm caused by racially disparate “marijuana-related” policing and incarceration. Though a window of promise is open, little effort is being made to use this bill to provide opportunity for African Americans in an equitable manner. We feel strongly that the only way forward on S.54 is backwards. Back to the drawing board
Ask the legislative leadership, our House Government Operations and the S.54 Conference Committee NOT to advance S.54 this year, that it may me constructed to address taxation and regulation through the lens of reparations and racial equity (as we suggested).
Conference Committee on S.54
