Vermont has serious issues to address in terms of racial justice, equity and diversity. Not unlike the rest of the nation, this issues exist as a result of our racist national past. They live in our racist national present. Officials have made progress in identifying the challenge and beginning the process to address it through Act 54 (2017) and Act 9 (2018). Now more is required of us. Now is the time to do the hard work of deconstructing the foundation of institutionalized racism in Vermont – our constitution.
Then we must work diligently each day to seek out, identify and course correct the statutes, rules and institutions that continue to perpetuate disparities and hurt people 245 years after our constitution promised us that “all persons are born equally free and independent, and have certain natural, inherent, and unalienable rights, amongst which are the enjoying and defending life and liberty, acquiring, possessing and protecting property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety.” See more on the #AbolishSlaveryVT Campaign here.