For people in Brattleboro who want to know what the state legislature is doing, the best option may be to read VTDigger. The mission of the Vermont Journalism Trust, owner of the popular news website, is to “produce rigorous journalism that explains complex issues, promotes public accountability and fosters democratic and civic engagement.”
What's less clear is how much the group wants itself to be subject to public accountability and democratic and civic engagement.
On April 26 in Amherst about 125 peace protesters held signs inside and outside an event at UMass with the governor of Massachusetts. The protesters were calling for UMass to stop investing in companies that take part in Israel's war on Gaza, and to cut ties with military contractors.
In Northampton, on April 11, 2024 students at Smith College ended their 12 day, 24-hour-a-day occupation of the college's central administration building. They were protesting the war by Israel and the USA against Gaza.
On October 25, 2023, fifty-seven members of the UMass Amherst community--fifty-five students and two campus employees--were arrested in the Whitmore administration building, demanding that UMass divest from and cut ties with Raytheon and other companies that are fueling and profiting from the war in Palestine.
Ten people from the Pioneer Valley were among about 70 people at a rally on April 15. Ten people were arrested for non-violent civil disobedience. The goal was to stop Israel's war on Gaza. The rally was outside a military factory in Middletown, Connecticut, which is about 40 minutes by car from Springfield, Massachusetts.
More than 200 Smith college students occupied the administration building at the college starting March 27. The 24 hour a day occupation was continuing as of about 10 a.m. on April 4. The students were calling on the college to stop investing in corporations that make bombs, guns, and other supplies used by Israel to kill people in Gaza. The USA provides much of the money for the genocide.
More than 200 Smith college students occupied the administration building at the college starting March 27. The 24 hour a day occupation was continuing as of about 1 p.m. on March 29, with dozens of students in the building. They were calling on the college to stop investing in corporations that make bombs, guns, and other supplies used by Israel to kill people in Gaza. The USA provides much of the money for the genocide. A spokesperson for the Smith protesters told the Valley Post they will provide a comment soon. The Valley Post will include the comment in a future article.
Thanks to peace protesters, on March 19, the Greenfield city council voted to call for a ceasefire in Gaza. The day before, about 25 people attended a rally in Greenfield for this cause. The organizers have a web site at www.traprock.org.
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On March 19, an Amtrak spokesman told the Valley Post of the new, $10 million Brattleboro Amtrak station, “We anticipate starting construction this summer.”
About 70 people marched about eight miles from Amherst to Northampton on March 10. They were protesting China's occupation of Tibet. Most of the marchers were of Tibetan ancestry. The organizers have a web page at:
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In Brattleboro on February 27, about 25 to 30 people attended a rally. The rally was to call on the Brattleboro high school (BUHS) to do more for survivors of sexual abuse. Diana Whitney is one of the organizers. She told the Valley Post, "The rally was small but immensely powerful. Around 25-30 people came, from all generations— survivors, advocates, allies, BUHS students and parents, a BUHS teacher... even former/current school board members. An advocate from the Women’s Freedom Center spoke about the insidious nature of rape culture and the power of being visible in the community.
In Northampton about 150 people attended a rally to call for a ceasefire in Gaza, organizers told the Valley Post. The rally was on February 16. In Greenfield on February 21, about 25 people attended a rally for the same cause, organizers told the Valley Post. One of the groups that organized the rallies has a web site at www.jvp.org.
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