Home ›

Social Justice

VICII: Birthright Citizenship: No Asterisks, No Exception! 02/12/2025

From VICII:

All her life, Sandy Baird has fought for equality, standing firmly for the rights of the marginalized and advocating for justice at every turn. Her unwavering dedication to the Constitution, and especially to the Fourteenth Amendment, is a testament to her belief in the sanctity of American democracy. For Sandy, the Constitution was not merely a set of legal codes—it was a moral declaration of justice, a promise that America belongs to all those born on its soil, regardless of ancestry, status, or political agenda.

In the wake of recent challenges to birthright citizenship, particularly through executive actions that sought to undermine the Citizenship Clause of the 14th Amendment, Sandy’s fight is more relevant than ever. This clause guarantees citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and it is the foundation of our nation’s promise of equality. To attack this right is to undermine the very bedrock of American democracy.

We invite you to honor Sandy Baird’s life-long fight for equality and join us for a critical public discussion on birthright citizenship, as we explore its legal and constitutional importance in light of recent challenges. Ryan Kane, Deputy Solicitor General at the Vermont Attorney General's Office, will lead the conversation, providing insights into the legal framework of the 14th Amendment and the efforts to erode birthright citizenship.

For more information about VICII please visit: www.VICII.org/events

VICII: Do You Speak BRICS?: A New Language in a Shifting Geopolitical World 02/05/2025

From VICII:

As the BRICS coalition—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—expands to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the UAE, it is reshaping the geopolitical landscape into what is now known as BRICS+. These nations represent a significant share of the world’s population and economic power, challenging the traditional Western-dominated global order.

At the same time, the U.S. political landscape is undergoing transformation, influenced by the policies and legacy of Donald Trump’s "America First" doctrine. How do these dual rises—the growing influence of BRICS+ and Trump’s impact on U.S. foreign policy—intersect or clash in reshaping the global order?

Join us for a VICII Special Forum, where Kurt Mehta will lead a discussion on:

  • BRICS' strategic alliances and economic cooperation: How are these nations working together to create a multipolar world?
  • The drive for de-dollarization: What does BRICS Pay and other alternative economic systems mean for the future of global trade?
  • Trump's influence on international relations: How does "America First" affect the U.S.'s standing in a world increasingly looking toward BRICS?

For more information about VICII please visit: www.VICII.org/events

VICII: Syria Today: From a West-Labeled Dictator to a West-Labeled Terrorist, How Far Will the West Go to Counter Russia? 01/22/2025

From VICII:

Join us for an insightful and timely discussion on the current state of Syria, featuring Wafic Faour, a renowned expert and commentator on Middle Eastern affairs. This event will delve into Syria’s ongoing challenges and complexities, from the rule of Bashar al-Assad to the anticipated policies of his de-facto successor, rebel leader Ahmed al-Sharaa. Despite a $10 million U.S. bounty on his head and leading a group designated as a terrorist organization by Washington and others, Ahmed al-Sharaa has recently dropped his nom de guerre of Abu Mohammad al-Jolani and traded military fatigues for a suit. This shift seems to align with Western interests to counter Russia and weaken Syria’s sovereignty under the guise of fostering peace. By embracing Sharaa, despite the risks, the West underscores selective bigotry that exploits Syria’s struggles to serve broader geopolitical aims. Sharma has been actively pushing this narrative in meetings with Western diplomats and the media since rebel forces, led by his Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group (HTS), toppled the regime of President Bashar al-Assad. 

For more information about VICII please visit: www.VICII.org/events

VICII: Why The US Feels Threatened by Venezuela 10/17/2024

From VICII:

Join us for a compelling public affairs discussion that delves into the ongoing tensions between Venezuela and the United States. This public affairs discussion will explore the ongoing tensions between Venezuela and the United States, focusing on why Venezuela continues to frustrate US foreign policy. The conversation will examine the historical, political, and economic reasons behind these strained relations, highlighting Venezuela’s defiance of US influence and its global alliances.

Peter Lackowski, a peace activist and supporter of Latin America’s political autonomy, will provide his perspective on Hugo Chávez’s Chavismo movement and why it remains a challenge to US interests. Moderated by Sandy Baird, this event will delve into the reasons behind US hostility toward Venezuela, the consequences of sanctions, and what this means for Latin America’s future.

For more information about VICII please visit: www.VICII.org/events

VICII: Public Forum: The Case of UVM vs Suspended Pro-Palestinian Students - Is Free Speech On Trial? 09/23/2024

From VICII:

This fall, the University of Vermont continues its suspension of the student group Students for Justice in Palestine, which began during the spring protests against the Israel/Gaza War. Attorney John Franco, Esq., has filed a lawsuit arguing that this suspension violates the US Constitutional guarantees of free speech and is calling for the university to reinstate the group and reaffirm its commitment to free expression.

Join the Vermont Institute of Community and International Involvement for a critical discussion of this case.

John Franco, Esq. will lead the discussion, joined by Constitutional lawyer and Vermont Law School Professor Jared Carter, as well as Community Lawyer Sandy Baird, Esq. Together, they will examine the legal and constitutional implications of the case and what it means for free speech on university campuses.

All are welcome. Don't miss this important conversation about constitutional rights and student activism!

For more information about VICII please visit: www.VICII.org/events

The Juxtaposition: Walk In Power 08/11/2022

From the Vermont Racial Justice Alliance:

A program about issues affecting Black Folks and Black Folks effecting change.

The struggles and advances of Black folks throughout our national history of slavery and its current legacy have infused in our DNA an indisputable resilience. Realizing the untapped power that exists in us is a life altering awakening. It is liberating, exhilarating and infectious. It is our challenge to walk in this power and cultivate it in others. We’re joined today by a community member who walks in power.

Guests: Rajnii Eddins, Spoken Word Poet/Emcee and Teaching Artist; Christine Hughes, Director of the Richard Kemp Center

Originally from Seattle Washington, Spoken Word Poet/Emcee and Teaching Artist Rajnii Eddins has been engaging diverse community audiences for over 27 years. He was the youngest member of the Afrikan American Writers Alliance at age 11 and has been actively sharing with youth and community in Vermont since 2010.

Christine co-founded Uncommon Alliance, the first grassroots, local effort to initiate race data collection with the local police department. She is the Principal of New SeasonsVT and the Director of CALEOVT. She served as the first Chair of the Racial Disparities in the Criminal and Juvenile Justice System Advisory Panel. Christine also created a Workforce Development program at the Burlington CJC as a contractor for the state for 12 years. Most recently she served as Senior Employment Consultant for Hireability and VABIR over the past four years. 

The Juxtaposition: Hiding Behind Objectivity 07/13/2022

From the Vermont Racial Justice Alliance:

Think of all of the time and money directed to training, education and consulting on the issue of systemic racism. Consider all of the public policy work and community oriented action currently underway. Why are we still doing this in 2022? Why can’t we win on racial justice and equity? Are we missing something? An NPR/Ipsos Poll indicates that 50 percent of White people do not believe that systemic racism exists. Amongst those, it’s less clear how many of them are actually doing something about it. How do we win in today’s climate of ongoing backlash knowing that part of our team is Hiding Behind Objectivity?

We’re joined by Vincent Mitchell, Director of Student Culture, Vermont Racial Justice Alliance.

 

This episode of The Juxtaposition won a Hometown Media Award for Racial Justice and Civil Rights Programming Independent Producer at the 2023 Alliance for Community Media. 

The Juxtaposition: Running Victory Laps in a Race That’s Not Over 06/08/2022

From the Vermont Racial Justice Alliance:

Last year Juneteenth was declared a national holiday. How do we reconcile that with the ongoing efforts in Vermont and nationally to abolish slavery? Join us as we navigate a discussion to unpack the truth about our US history with slavery and hear from some of the abolitionists doing the work in other states and at the national level NOW in 2022.

Guest list:
Curtis Davis
ED, Decarcerate Louisiana
Author, Slave State Evidence of Apartheid in America
mindfield416@gmail.com

Max Parthes
max@abolishslavery.us
Acting Director for the Paul Cuffee Abolitionist Center in Sumpter,
National Campaign Coordinator for the Abolish Slavery National Network
Co-host/Executive producer of Abolition Today

Jamilia Land and Sam Brown
jamilialand@gmail.com
sam.nathaniel.brown@gmail.com
Co founders, Antiviolence Safety and Accountability Project (A.S.A.P)
Chairs of the California Abolition Act Coalition

The Juxtaposition: The Juxtaposition Promo 05/11/2022

From the Vermont Racial Justice Alliance:

Join Mark Hughes on the second Wednesday of every month for The Juxtaposition -- a live conversation about issues impacting Black Vermonters.

The Juxtaposition: Freedom and Unity 05/11/2022

From the Vermont Racial Justice Alliance:

There is general agreement that Vermont's motto is about the idea of balancing two seemingly opposite ideals: the personal freedom and independence of the individual citizen, with the common good of the larger community. Article 1 of the Vermont Constitution states that "all persons are born equally free and independent, and have certain natural, inherent, and unalienable rights." How do we reconcile that with the fact that Vermont was the first state to ever constitutionalize slavery.

Our guest is Debbie Ingram, Executive Director of Vermont Interfaith Action.

Syndicate content

Featured Story

Applications Now Open for the Fall 2025 Cohort of the Neighborhood Community Media Internship Program

Town Meeting TV is excited to announce that applications are now open for the Fall 2025 cohort of the Neighborhood Community Media Internship program. Join up to 4 other youth to engage in interesting media making projects! This paid media internship opportunity is designed for youth aged 16-20 who are eager to gain professional experience in the audio-visual field and develop a deeper understanding of their local community. The group will meet under the leadership of Town Meeting TV's Travis Washington from September 2025 to January 2026, on a schedule agreed upon by the whole cohort. Click here to apply!

Read more...

More News from the Center for Media and Democracy