People Before Planes: Stop the F-35

Description

For over 40 years, the US airforce has based the F-16 planes at the US national guard station at the Burlington airport in South Burlington, VT. The Burlington airport is surrounded by residential neighborhoods, with many families and low income people living in the area.

Five years ago, the air force modified the way the F-16 planes took off, dramatically increasing the noise levels. As a result, many residents surrounding the airport could no longer live in their homes. Through a federal program, 200 homes in South Burlington have been bought and families moved out. These homes now sit vacant.

Now there is a proposal for the Air Force to base the F-35 at the Burlington airport. The F-35 is a new warplane under development that would be up to 4 times as loud as the F16s. Basing the F-35s at the Burlington airport would result in 7,700 people living in an area that the Air Force deems not suitable for residential use” In addition, residents in Winooski and Williston would live in the crash zone for the F-35.

Millions of dollars from corporate developers and business groups have been spent to bring the F-35's to Burlington. These developers are interested in expanding the airport and building hotels and other commercial properties. This will be much easier when thousands of working class people are forced to leave their homes because of the impacts of the F-35s.

This is the story of everyday people organizing to stop the F-35s, and demanding that their elected representatives put people before planes and corporate interests.