Social Justice in Our Community

The Justice Project

The Justice Project (formerly known as Social Justice Committee) will be meeting in the parlor soon after the service ends on the second Sunday of each month.

Our North Chapel Social Justice Committee has held a series of films, discussions, and other events related to social justice issues for the North Chapel and wider community.

Our goal is to support one another as we raise our awareness and deepen our understanding of the complex and compelling issues of our times, in the hope that both together and separately, we can take effective and meaningful action.

To join us contact chair of The Justice Project, Joelle Seavey .

Hi Folks, We have a few more actions planned and wanted to get the news out. Please remember you can check our Webpage for daily updates and now we have a Facebook Group you can check too!

There is more Art, Actions & Petitions on the UV RISE UP website.

Migrant Justice Training Notes  -  May 3, 2025 - Woodstock, VT

Migrant Justice is based in Burlington, VT, founded by dairy workers and advocates for the migrant workers in Vermont.

Their website, https://migrantjustice.net/ includes much of the information included below.

Dealing with ICE (Immigration & Custom Enforcement) and BP (Border Patrol)? They are different!

Recently, ICE has been more targeted in their internal enforcement. 

They issue warrants based on informants, social media….use unmarked cars and no uniforms

Border Patrol has jurisdiction up to 100 miles from the borders. They are less targeted, setting up checkpoints and traffic stops (racial profiling). They are in uniform and often drive well marked white cars or trucks with a large green stripe.

Local and state police will be in uniform in marked vehicles. 

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS - SEE THE “KNOW YOUR RIGHTS WITH ICE AND BORDER PATROL for employers, motorists and Farmers sheet here: https://www.ruralvermont.org/consumer-resources

Protections WON in Vermont, these are in place:

• Fair and impartial hearings https://www.acluvt.org/en/news/keep-vermont-police-out-deportation-business

• Prohibition of courthouse arrests

• DMV information sharing declared invalid

• Allows for immigrants to get drivers licenses

• Stopping ICE from targeting 1st amendment rights

Under attack at this point:

The Mayorkas Memorandum, officially titled "Guidelines for the Enforcement of Civil Immigration Law," is a set of guidelines issued by Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas in September 2021. It outlines priorities for the enforcement of civil immigration law, emphasizing threats to national security, public safety, and border security. The memorandum also emphasizes the importance of protecting civil rights and civil liberties, including the prohibition of using immigration enforcement as a tool of retaliation or to exploit noncitizens' immigration status.

If an immigrant is approached by ICE or Border Patrol (not local or state police) ONLY RESPOND WITH: 

1. “I exercise my right to remain silent.”

2. “I don't have to identify myself to you.”

3. “Am I being detained?”

1. “Am I free to go?”

2. “What is the probable cause of this detention?”

However, responding to the questions of local or state police: My understanding is that the kind of normal questions asked by police - to see your license and registration, how fast you were going, etc. should be answered - same as one always does.  But you do not need to answer (and shouldn't answer)  questions about Immigration status...unless they have a judicial signed warrant...In other words, if no warrant then utilize the statements you included:  I exercise my right to remain silent...etc. 

A. TACTICS OF RESISTANCE

There are three Types of Rapid Response to assist Migrant Justice workers:

• Prevention

• Intervention

• Safety net

Report Sightings! Use the ALERTA format and call or text 802-881-7229 with information and video.

Activity

Location

Equipment  

Request Aid

Time and Date

Appearance 

B. PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS

Officers may have a Judicial Warrant or a  Immigration or Administrative Warrant. Know the difference.

• Judicial Warrant has a time frame and a judge’s signature.

• Other warrants do NOT give agents permission to enter private property.

          *See attached sheet titled “Know Your Rights with ICE and Border Control”

C. CHECK POINTS

If you see a checkpoint, alert Migrant Justice: call or text 802-881-7229.

They will pass your information on to the public via social media once it is verified.

SUPPORTS:

Monitor and alert the impacted community by taking these actions if it is safe and appropriate. 

“The more we normalize these actions, others will follow and do the same.”

“It will take the officers away from dealing with the impacted community and slow the efforts of BP and ICE.”

1. Make a “Checkpoint Ahead” Signage - If you see a checkpoint ahead, go back about a half mile or so and hold up a sign  to warn the impacted community to turn around and go another route.

2. Non Compliance - Whether you are not from an impacted community or not, DO NOT answer questions from ICE or Border Control agents. 

3. Accompaniment - Because officers are allowed to lie, go to check-ins with detainees for support. Take notes.

Rapid Response for Enforcement Action in Progress

1. Migrant Justice is notified

2. Text blast sent to Rapid Response Group

3. If you can go, reply by text and head to location specified

4. When you arrive, advise Migrant Justice staff

5. Document: take photos and videos

6. Inform ICE /BP that you are there to observe. Attempt to talk to/calm their targets.

7. If an arrest happens, provide logistical support and follow the officers to the station/ICE office of BP barracks

DOCUMENTATION 

• You have the right to video “from a reasonable distance”as long as it does not interfere with enforcement actions.

• Document reduces risk of rights violations.

• Documentation can be used in court hearings to challenge evidence.

• So, have a phone and notebook to get images of FACES, VOICES,  LOCATION, VEHICLES

INTERVENTION 

• Stopping enforcement as it happens is technically illegal but often worth the effort.

MOBILIZATION

• Petitions - Letters - Public Pressure

• Press - Public Pressure on the judges

• Protests - rallies, marches, etc.

FURTHER READING and ways to get involved:

NOT 1 MORE Deportation campaign:  https://action.mijente.net/efforts/not1more-deportation

Freedom for Farm Workers: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/freedom-for-farmworkers

Milk With Dignity Campaign: https://migrantjustice.net/milk-with-dignity-campaign

FINAL NOTES from the trainer:

Showing support to detained persons and other evolving tactics such as assistance with bail, etc. are in the works… but ALWAYS follow the lead of the support teams because every case is different. Don't get in the way of those trained and experienced.

Please consider signing up to work with Migrant Justice Rapid Response Team. 

Additional Documents to Print

“Know Your Rights with ICE and Border Control”

“Migrant Justice Ally Orientation”

Migrants’ Rights Poster

The Radical Flower - Outgrowing Our Social Division

Here is Leon's TEDx Talk on YouTube!

"The Radical Flower - Outgrowing Our Social Division"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkieN3oZJ-8

From YouTube:

Talking about joy and racial justice at the same time is almost impossible. It’s very hard work but it can be done. Our conversations about race and racism become so volatile because they are not yet as beautiful as they need to be. Our conversations do not yet enable us. Flower gets us closer. Through disciplined, graphic analysis of the of the stories that we hear (and the stories that we tell), Flower helps us to better understand this persistent, American challenge… and helps us to overcome it.

For the inaugural year of TEDxHartlandHill in Woodstock, VT, we compiled an amazing group of speakers to dive into the question, "What is Community?" Each speaker taking on all aspects of being our best, kind and open, to create a truly healthy environment.

Rev. Dr. Leon Dunkley leads us through an exercise towards more compassion using an innovative approach that is a wonder to see. The Rev. Dr. Leon Dunkley ministers to the North Universalist Chapel Society in Woodstock, VT. He is a lifelong Unitarian Universalist. The church of his childhood was the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Monmouth County in Lincroft, New Jersey. From this church (and from its minister, Reverend Harold Dean), Leon learned about the sweetness of life. He learned about compassion, peace, and possibility.

Leon received his undergraduate degree from Tufts University and his Ph.D. in Ethnomusicology from the University of Pittsburgh. He studied the traditional drumming of Ghana and the Republic of Zaire, the Kora tradition of Senegal, the Gamelan traditions of Java and Bali in Indonesia, the African American Blues and Jazz tradition(s) throughout the Americas. Most recently, he has taken an interest in Bluegrass and Country Blues.

The joy of life is the best within us becoming possible. So then, how do we best foster the joy of life? A poet writes,

Reaching to the past, we find ourselves less distantly,

trying to remember our tale

Asking of tomorrow just the simple gift of peace,

oceans over ourselves

And, here, to give oneself upon an altar high,

trying to remember our tale

To see and hear within the stillness, to touch and taste the sky,

trying to remember our tale

As if the golden light was in our hands,

As if Silence had whispered my name…

Beholden and here I am

Silent and singing away

How do we commit ourselves to our highest hopes and aspirations? How do we challenge the barriers, the impediments that hold us back?

Leon is currently writing a book entitled The Flower of Impossible Soul. It explores the meaning of spiritual growth and radical forgiveness in the presence of violence and racial strife. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Actions you can take today:

Please send any petitions or other news to be posted here to office@northchapelvt.org.

From Helen Hong of COVER:

Upper Valley Strong is a local resource that is helping to bring volunteers and financial contributions together. https://uvstrong.org/ This is a resource in addition to Sustainable Woodstock and the Hub, both of which are providing essential services to residents of Woodstock and nearby areas. 

For anyone interested in learning more about COVER and our upcoming volunteer projects, our website is https://coverhomerepair.org/.

Help Change the World Kids to GROW SOME TO FEED MANY!

Are you a gardener or farmer with a few extra carrots, beets, potatoes or other root cellar storage vegetables that you’d be willing to donate, so we can deliver locally grown vegetables to local Food Shelves and families throughout the cold months? Please help us to fill all of our root cellar bins and shelves! No amount is too small or too big.

Which veggies? Carrots, beets, potatoes, onions, leeks, cabbages, broccoli, cauliflower, turnips, rutabagas, parsnips, apples, and pears for the root cellar, and winter squash, garlic, and dried shell beans for our dry, cold storage area.

If you have questions, or if you want to schedule a drop-off time at our root cellar behind the Woodstock Elementary School or a pick-up time at your farm or home, please contact us: changetheworldkids@gmail.com.

Reduce hunger. Promote health. Build community. Thank you!

Change the World Kids

www.changetheworldkids.org

“No one can do everything, but everybody can do something.”

Other Ways North Chapel Community Can Help Support Change the World Kids

• We are in need of clean grass clippings for mulch for our Food Justice Gardens.

• You can donate herb plants for our new “cook with fresh herbs garden”

• Get involved with the town energy plan and advocate for Net Zero infrastructure for all future improvements

• Donate wood to our Free Firewood project

• Make a financial contribution. Truly, we can’t do this work without the support from the community

If you are interested in helping with any of this, please reach out by emailing us at changetheworldkids@gmail.com. It may take a couple days for us to respond by email so if you need a faster turn around, please call. Thank you!

Sustainable Woodstock and the Widow Dressers Project

Volunteers in the Social Hall at North Chapel

photos by Jenevra Wetmore

Thanks to all involved, we built 235 window inserts for 26 families in 2023. We are scheduled to build again September 12-19. Keep an eye out for the opportunity to sign up.

-we had over 80 volunteers join us to help

-Window Dressers estimated that on average, 10 inserts will save 105 gallons of heating fuel — which at around $5.50/gallon, amounts to more than $550 in savings per year. That means we're saving ~2,467 gallons of fuel, or $13,571.