With less than 2 weeks left until Aug 16 (school start date), we, the Ad Hoc Committee Averse to Mandated Vaccination at the University of the Virgin Islands, are seeking community support to help us organize, research, and properly carry out our civic duty to respectfully and professionally dispute their right to equal education at the University of the Virgin Islands.

We are not anti-vaccine as some of us are vaccinated, we are against what is happening at our University that is causing great stress to our fellow students and UVI's employees.

Ultimately, we know that the safest way is for us to all attend school and work is virtual until it is safer to be out more regularly. That approach has been DENIED, along with the medical and religious exemptions of the employees that were also DENIED, no matter which professional physician or clergy member attested to them. We’re not sure what’s the point of “offering” them if they had already intended to deny them. Numerous persons have been told that there was never any intention of approving most of them because they want 100% vaccinated campus, even though they can’t control who comes on campus or what happens off campus. The information is reviewed against the CDC, against the EEOC which is the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and any other entity out there that’s associated with the rules and regulations of employment and then a decision is made.

We are suggesting that the UVI Board of Trustees use alternative methods of keeping our campus safe, including what the President and other leaders are using as an alternative to mandates, which is weekly testing. We are encouraging more of our professors to offer their courses virtually as well as other supplies for at-home learning. We intend to follow all safety protocols and even serve as peer leadership in influencing other students to do the same.

As a UVI student, parent, employee, alumni, or community member, do you agree?

We just want to attend our University like the other students on the campus or if necessary, virtually. Some of us are vaccinated, and others are not, but we are one voice united for the purpose of equal education for all.

We also are in support of the University staff and faculty who have already begun experiencing "adverse effects" as well as threats to their employment (including the inability to receive unemployment benefits) if not vaccinated and continue to be threatened through behavioral coercion including psychological abuse justified by doing what they think is best for the greater good, that they can afford to or are able to do, not what is actually proven to be safest for all.

To help, please contact your favorite senator and public official to express your grievances regarding the mandate and people being terminated without the ability to get unemployment, even though they turned in legal and authentic medical and religious exemptions. You can copy our email address to help us stay motivated and knowing we’re not alone.

Most senators are seemingly not yet willing to support the students and employees at UVI, so the hope is that the community and medical practitioners with additional information can help them understand that there is another way to keep those at UVI and the community safe. The logic and scientific understanding of these medical professionals is being overshadowed by mainstream media.

Join us on Monday, August 9, 2021 as we walk in silent protest to UVI and the legislature building together, while practicing social distancing and other safety protocols. The silent protesters will be parking at Lindberg beach starting at 8:00 a.m. by Walker’s Restaurant and being shuttled to the stoplight by Supercat Laundromat to start at 9:00 a.m. A second leg of protesters will park at Fort Christian and be shuttled to Griffith Park, or meet at Griffith park to walk to the Capital building to propose a bill to the senators that would end the entire debate, should senators decide to propose the bill together.

Signing this as a students says that you are willing to attend school virtually rather than have a vaccination mandate. Email your professors or the Provost to request more virtual classes.

Signing this as UVI employees says that you are against the mandate, right along with the students.

Signing this as the community states that you are in agreement with a bill that will stop the ability for vaccination mandates not only at UVI, but throughout the territory.

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