Raise Up Justice
Raise Up Justice
The National Emergency
The Department of Justice Civil Rights Division and all other federal civil rights divisions have been decommissioned, gutted or politically repurposed. All funding that was designated for programs addressing disparate adverse impacts caused by systemic racism have been cut. Homeland Security Task Forces have been stood up in all states, including Vermont (DEA, FBI, ATF, US Marshals and ICE). An unchallenged executive order has directed military equipment into law enforcement agencies and provided law enforcement legal protection and “indemnification” placing Black, other people of color and other marginalized communities at extreme risk while shielding law enforcement from accountability.
Immigration, education, employment, criminal justice, housing and homelessness, federal workforce, and global policy (USAID) policy are all being violently racially weaponized. The Department of Justice has been directed to divert resources away from good faith enforcement of this nation’s hard fought civil rights laws that are rooted in the spirit of the Reconstruction Equal Protection Clause of the 14th amendment of the US Constitution. They have redefined Diversity Equity and Inclusion as discriminatory and established it as a high priority for “prosecution”. Meanwhile consent decrees (voluntary agreements with police departments and schools and DOJ; a work plan to achieve civil rights compliance) have been withdrawn. From severely weakening the Fair Housing Act and Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) to modifying the scope of Title IX discipline enforcement of civil rights protections of the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the Department of Education, civil rights have been dismantled. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has been severely impacted and Health Insurance Benefit Discrimination Provisions have been eliminated. In summary, the DOJ has abandoned the enforcement of civil rights laws as we know them. They have instead weaponized the DOJ to pursue a political agenda (anti-DEI).
The social and economic outcome is that these exclusionary policies have ended up hurting all of us because our democracy has become so seriously eroded that we technically no longer live in a true democratic society. This is directly impacting us, our friends, loved ones and those who struggle most – It’s hurting all of us. This is an assault on Democracy. This is an all hands on deck moment.
This is an emergency!
Emergency Response
This is a National Emergency!
We need a State Emergency Response!
The governor has the power to declare an emergency. The governor also has the constitutional authority to issue lawful Executive Orders and to call the legislature back into session!
If the governor refuses to reconvene the legislature, the legislature has the ability to reconvene NOW by authority of Act R-188, 2025 (adjournment joint resolution). Once in session, the legislature has the power to adjust the budget as well as create new revenue for and enact bills that provide enhanced or new enforceable anti-discrimination protections, racial justice and that relate to disparate impact protections. There remain numerous existing related bills in various committees that can not be passed unless the legislature is in session. The legislature also has the authority to prioritize and restore funding (even if partially) to selected programs and services that have or will be defunded by the federal government, disproportionately impacting underserved communities (once in session).
Mayors across Vermont also have the power to declare an emergency. They too have the authority to issue lawful Executive Orders and to call a special city council or select board session to address this emergency!
In his Oath of Affirmation of Office the governor solemnly swore to faithfully execute his office and would therein “do equal right and justice to all persons”, according to law to the best of [his] judgment and ability. Every executive (mayors, etc) in the state of Vermont have taken the same Oath of Affirmation. Our state legislature took an oath that they will not consent to any act or thing whatever, that lessens or abridge Vermonters’ rights and privileges, as declared by the Constitution; “but will, in all things, conduct [themselves] as a faithful, honest Representative and guardian of the people according to the best of [their] judgment and ability.”
We are calling on elected officials to do equal right and justice to ALL persons! We’re asking that they ensure that the Rights or privileges of Vermonters are NOT lessened or abridged. We demand that our elected officials ACT NOW to the best of their judgment and ability!
Raise Up Justice Demands are here. NOW is the time to stand for civil rights and justice. When we stand together, we all win!
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Additional Details
For additional details on meeting and event times and locations email: raiseupjustice@gmail.com