Hello Supporters of this Petition!

Seth Andrew and Democracy Builders have requested an emergency Marlboro Select Board meeting for TOMORROW, Monday July 20th at 5pm EST.

PLEASE ADD YOUR VOICE.

There will be time for public comment at the beginning of the meeting and then the Democracy Builders/Degrees of Freedom team will have a chance to speak. Anyone can speak during public comment. You do not need to be a resident of Marlboro or Vermont. 

There is power in numbers. We need to add our voices to help amplify the voices of Black N Brown at DP. We all need to show up and publicly express our concerns and ask questions. 

JOIN THE MEETING VIA ZOOM:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89755939733
Meeting ID: 897 5593 9733

To Join by Phone: 1-646-558-8656

Please read this powerful article from J LeShaé: The case for postponing Marlboro sale.

There are only 20 minutes scheduled for public comment but that can be extended if enough people show up to speak. See the schedule HERE.

It is very possible that the sale will be approved by the VT Attorney General at some point tomorrow. We need to show up and be loud so that Democracy Builders knows we are not going away and we are going to hold them accountable. We want to know how they intend to repair past harms and what they plan to do differently this time so that they don't continue to uphold systems of oppression and racism. We can't ignore the testimonies of abuse from Black N Brown at DP and neither can they. 

JOIN THE MEETING MONDAY (7/20) AT 5PM EST

Below are some suggestions of things you could say. Please feel free to express your own concerns or read the comment you've added to this petition. You are welcome to read a prepared statement. 

1. I stand in solidarity with Black N Brown at DP and want to know how your organization plans to work with the collective to repair past harms. 
2. I stand in solidarity with Black N Brown at DP and want to see yearly dollar reparations given to the collective to distribute to families as they see fit. 
3. I stand in solidarity with Black N Brown at DP and want to know what steps you are taking to insure you provide a safe and anti-racist space for students at Degrees of Freedom. 
4. I stand in solidarity with Black N Brown at DP and I want to see an independent investigation into the allegations of racism and abuse coming from alumni, parents, and staff of Democracy Prep. 
5. I stand in solidarity with Black N Brown at DP and want to see a majority of the leadership of Degrees of Freedom match the demographics of the student base you plan to serve
6. I stand in solidarity with Black N Brown at DP and want to know how you plan to not repeat past mistakes if your staff and leadership are all coming from Democracy Prep. 
7. I stand in solidarity with Black N Brown at DP and want to hear what formal structures for community, student, and family input you plan to use so that people feel comfortable coming forward with complaints. 

THANK YOU FOR ADDING YOUR VOICE AND WE WILL SEE YOU AT THE MEETING TOMORROW EVENING!