A desire for change
Community members gather for a recent rally in Woodstock, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson File Photo)
Yesterday I wrote about the power of younger voices demanding racial justice, and today, I’m encouraged Vermonters are strengthening that movement and momentum is building.
A week after the words “Black Lives Matter” were painted on the road leading to the White House, the street facing the Vermont State House now bears the same message. Over 100 people reportedly gathered on Saturday morning to paint the words. The 20-foot message in yellow paint is unavoidable when going to the State House or passing by, which means many people will see the words every day, including those running the government.
This is important, because we need reminders large and small, so that the awareness of inequality and injustice stays at the forefront of our minds as a community. That’s the basic requirement to move toward the change many Americans are demanding. The vandalism of the new mural, reported on Sunday, is a reminder of the challenges that lie ahead.
These issues are on the minds of lawmakers in our state, though it’s not yet clear what statewide proposals will come. Windsor County Sen. Alison Clarkson spoke at a recent rally in Woodstock.
“We are all committed to changing our world one bill at a time, one life at a time,” she said, including her fellow legislators.
In related news, the deadline passed on June 12 for applicants to the Racial Equity Task Force announced by Gov. Phil Scott this month following the national outcry about the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. The panel will be chaired by Xusana Davis, the state’s executive director of racial equity. The state appears to be moving on this quickly, so hopefully an announcement will come soon once all the members are selected.
As the governor has said, the racial equity task force isn’t the whole solution for Vermont, but it’s a starting point. In response to a reporter’s question last week, he emphasized that we all have a role to play in addressing racism. Just declaring, “I’m not a racist,” is not sufficient, Scott said at the Wednesday briefing.
“That’s not enough anymore,” he said. “What we need to do is be anti-racist, and we need to take action. It’s long overdue.”
The unavoidable Black Lives Matter mural on the street in Montpelier shows a strong desire for meaningful change, and a desire to remind those in power, and those they represent, that this issue is not going away. By joining together in those calls for justice, we keep building the momentum this movement needs, toward the unity our future requires.
— Gareth Henderson
