ACLU statement on law enforcement response in aftermath of March 11 protests

The following is a statement from James Duff Lyall, Executive Director, ACLU of Vermont:

“Vermont law enforcement leaders continue to draw all the wrong lessons from the events of March 11. Rather than take responsibility for facilitating unlawful ICE arrests—condemned by three separate federal courts—or for using excessive force against protesters, Vermont police officials have unilaterally absolved state police agencies of any wrongdoing.

“Instead, Vermont police leaders have sought to distract and divide, invoking the specter of ‘outside agitators,’ a term and tactic favored by segregationists in the Civil Rights era. Now they are criticizing a valid decision by Chittenden County State's Attorney Sarah George not to prosecute, despite that being a routine outcome of prosecutorial discretion in prioritizing their office’s resources. On top of the participation of local police in the events of March 11, the subsequent inaction and statements of Vermont's law enforcement leadership are deeply disappointing.

“Vermonters are not fooled. As reported by VTDigger, public testimony at the State House and before the Burlington City Council included multiple accounts of protesters being choked, pepper-sprayed, and dragged by state and local police at the raid last month. And yet, with Vermont lacking robust oversight and accountability mechanisms, Vermont police have once again declared, effectively, ‘Don't believe your lying eyes—we have investigated ourselves and found no wrongdoing.’

“So long as Vermont law enforcement leadership continues to side with lawless federal agents over the people of Vermont, their criticism of a valid, local prosecutorial decision rings hollow. We again call on our local leaders to drop the divisive rhetoric and stand with Vermont’s communities against the Trump administration’s continuing assault on the rule of law.”