Via Community News Service, a University of Vermont journalism internship, on assignment for the Montpelier Bridge
Montpelier residents have rejected a resolution to “stand with Palestinian people and to oppose all forms of racism, bigotry, discrimination and oppression.”
The resolution, Article 13, called on Montpelier’s leaders to join others in “working to end all support for Israel’s apartheid regime, settler colonialism and military occupation.”
The final vote was 1,181 against and 887 for the pledge.
The pledge was spearheaded by the Vermont Coalition for Palestinian Liberation. Wafic Faour, a Palestinian-American activist and organizer of this campaign, initiated petitions for the pledge across several towns in Vermont.
Montpelier, Weybridge, Newfane, Thetford, Ferrisburgh, Vergennes, Brattleboro, Winooski and Burlington all successfully secured petition signatures from 5% or more registered voters needed to get the pledge on the ballots. Six towns, including Montpelier, voted on the pledge Tuesday.
Faour believes the war is a local issue, because of the amount of money the United States spends on Israel. He says that funding could be going toward health care, education and flood relief.
As people filed into City Hall to vote, Oliver Ames stood outside with a Palestinian flag he purchased down the street, attached to a mop handle with a couple of zip ties.
“Something about what’s going on nationally has made me feel like I have a responsibility to get out there, even if it makes me uncomfortable, which it absolutely does,” Ames said.
Hardwick resident Emily Lanxner was another advocate for the apartheid-free pledge. She stood outside City Hall handing out flyers that read, “Vote yes!”
“I was against genocide since day one, as soon as the bombing started,” Lanxner said.
Protestors opposing Article 13 stood outside City Hall with their own signs and flyers. Many of them expressed frustrations with the language used in the pledge, saying it was anti-Israel.
“I am very upset about Article 13, which is demonizing, delegitimizing and applying a double standard to Israel,” said Rabbi Tobie Weisman, executive director of Jewish Communities of Vermont.
Weisman believes the campaign for Article 13 incorrectly asserted that the city of Montpelier was giving money to Israel and that petitioners were not fully honest when seeking support for the pledge.
“Israel needs America to be its friend,” said David Friedman. “When everyone in the UN votes against Israel, Americans stand with it”.
Freidman acknowledged the United States’ financial support of Israel but didn’t feel it impacted taxpayers in Montpelier.
Advocates for both sides agreed on one thing: the significance of this bill for Montpelier, as well as nationwide.
“People look to Montpelier,” Friedman said. “It’s the capital. Montpelier sends a strong message to other places.”
Faour had hoped that this could be the start of something bigger.
“Things can go slowly, but nevertheless we are doing the right thing,” Faour said. “We are starting something in solidarity”