Yesterday the citizens of Vermont launched an
impeachment insurrection. 40 Vermont towns have now
called on Congress to impeach the President and
Vice-President. Another 20 or so have passed
resolutions calling for our troops to come home now
and be taken care of when they get here.
On March 2,3, and 4, Three Vermont Iraq Veterans Against the War, Cindy Sheehan, John Nichols and I toured a dozen Vermont towns rallying Vermonters to support impeachment and to go to town meeting. The packed crowds who greeted us made it clear that they are sick of waiting and are ready to act. Folks had
already organized impeachment forums and debates in
mid February. They'd been out distributing literature
about the war and impeachment. And those who just came
to learn what it was about went away determined to
turn that knowledge into action.
And at town meetings, on Tuesday March 6, we got the
first taste of their labors.
Ellen McKay, a Middlebury College student, heard our
words, wrote a beautiful impeachment resolution, took
it to town meeting and, over the objections of the
moderator, Republican Governor Jim Douglas, got it
passed by unanimous voice vote.
Liza Earle listened to our arguments and used them to
turn her first Richmond town meeting into another
triumph for impeachment.
Many towns voiced near unanimous assent in their
impeachment votes.
In Bennington, an impeachment resolution was
introduced by a Democrat, and seconded by a
Republican.
Not everyone had success. Moderators at several
meetings managed to prevent debate by ruling the
resolutions out of order, citing Robert's Rules or
declaring the subject out of bounds.
In the Vermont State House, an impeachment resolution,
with 22 co-sponsors, is languishing in the Judiciary
committee because the Speaker, Gaye Symington, does
not want to act on it.
Vermonters are taking their frustration and anger at
these tactics, and channeling them into a multipronged
campaign to force impeachment onto the table in
Montpelier and in Washington D.C.
We are starting a "lunch with a representative"
citizens' lobbying effort, coming directly to the
statehouse and buttonholing representatives to
advocate for impeachment.
We are launching a newspaper and radio ad campaign,
explaining the situation and targeting Symington and
the Judiciary Committee, as well as the rest of the
state legislature and Congressman Peter Welch, who
should be taking yesterday's town meeting impeachment
resolutions to the floor of the U.S. Congress
tomorrow!
Many Vermonters have pledged with the Occupation
Project, vowing civil disobedience directed towards
our politicians who refuse to cut war funding. We are
going to steadily turn up the heat.
As the criminality and unconstitutional actions of
this administration went unchecked by the Republican
Congress, we despaired thinking that resistance was
fruitless. When the Democrats took control on the
strength of our overwhelming antiwar vote, our hopes
were raised that perhaps there would be
accountability. Now, as Congress fails us, we've
looked to each other, discovered that we are many, and
we're mad as hell.
The most exciting part of this amazing movement is
that it is uncontrolled and uncontrollable. I may have
acted as an instigator, but people have now taken it
into their own hands; every day actions and ideas
surface from different groups and individuals. At the
same time, everyone is willing to help other people
when asked. Ask a stranger to help you in a common
cause, and you will become friends.
Towns across the border in NH and MA are warning
impeachment resolutions for upcoming town meetings. On
March 10, 11, Cindy Sheehan, John Boniface and I will
be in MA, urging others to join our burgeoning
movement.
There is no need to wait for us to come to your door.
Look around and you will discover Americans of all
viewpoints who know that this administration must be
checked. Take a visible stand of any sort, and you
will be recognized and joined by many. Help us reclaim
the constitution. Take your own action and join the
People's Impeachment Insurrection.