The Imperial Roots of the So-Called Immigration Crisis

The Imperial Roots of the So-Called Immigration Crisis

By Ashley Smith, Democratic Socials of America and PJC member What’s the cause of the so-called migrant crisis on the US border with Mexico? The Trump administration of course avoids this question preferring to demonize the human beings trying to find refuge in this country. Trump claims immigrants and asylum seekers are the problem and…

NATURAL COINCIDENCE? No – environmental racism: yesterday, today, tomorrow

NATURAL COINCIDENCE? No – environmental racism: yesterday, today, tomorrow

-Michaela Compo, PJC Fair Trade Intern The term environmental racism was coined by Benjamin Chavez to refer to the movement developed in the 1970’s and 80’s, but the idea can be traced back over 500 years to when the Europeans originally arrived in the Americas and displaced the local population. In Chavez’s words, environmental racism…

Phil Scott Celebration of Scott Walker Proves the Fallacy of the “Vermont Republican”

Phil Scott Celebration of Scott Walker Proves the Fallacy of the “Vermont Republican”

By Kristen Vrancken, Organizer, Women’s March Vermont and PJC member Many Vermonters are proud of what they see as the state’s uniquely progressive politics. To be sure, it has earned some of those bona fides: Vermont was the first state in the nation to introduce civil unions, and later, the first to introduce same-sex marriage…

An Interview with Pierrevy Polyte: Coffee and community

An Interview with Pierrevy Polyte: Coffee and community

-Alex Rose, Volunteer Coordinator and Assistant Store Manager  Pierrevy Polyte is an artist, coffee farmer, and founder of a worker cooperative that now has more than 800 members. Pierrevy is from Haiti and has been living in Burlington, Vermont since 2016. He is one of the Peace & Justice Centers more recent vendors, selling coffee…

What Kind of Peace?

What Kind of Peace?

By Richard Czaplinski “I’m for peace, but not your kind of peace.” So said a man as he came up close to me while I led the Vermont Veterans For Peace (VFP) “Budget Banner” down State Street during the July 3, 2018, Montpelier Parade. My mind went somewhat blank, not even thinking of responding. As…