Holy Ground: Canterbury Shaker Village

D.L.

HI, I'M ERIC FORD FROM MADE HERE.

IN 2022, HE MADE THIS SHORT DOCUMENTARY ANARCHY IN VERMONT, PROFILING THE EVENTUAL EVICTION OF THE SEARS LANE HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT IN BURLINGTON.

PROTESTERS COME TO THE AID OF THEIR HOUSELESS NEIGHBORS AND SEEK TO DEMONSTRATE THE VALUE OF COMMUNITY AT ALL LEVELS.

YOU CAN WATCH ANARCHY IN VERMONT AND OTHER GREAT MADE HERE FILMS STREAMING ON VERMONTPUBLIC.ORG AND THROUGH THE PBS APP.

ENJOY THE FILM AND THANKS FOR WATCHING.

♪ ♪ [BACKGROUND CONVERSATIONS] >> JUST THE PEOPLE.

WE KNOW, EVERYONE.

MY INTENTION IS NOT TO LEAVE BECAUSE THIS IS MY HOME.

I SPENT A MONTH IN THIS.

I HAVE BEEN HERE 14 MONTHS.

THESE PEOPLE HERE, THEY NEVER TOUCHED MY STUFF.

I AM AFRAID NOT TO BE ARRESTED, BECAUSE I WANT NOT TO HAVE A CRIMINAL RECORD, BECAUSE ONCE YOU HAVE A CRIMINAL RECORD... >> THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO LIVE A LIFE.

WE HAVE A COMMUNITY THAT CARES ABOUT EACH OTHER, THAT TAKES CARE OF EACH OTHER.

I SHOWED UP AT SEARS LANE FIRST WHEN I WAS 17 YEARS OLD BECAUSE DCF FAILED ME.

I DIDN'T FIND A HOME UNTIL I WAS 17 AND MY HOME IS THE PEOPLE FROM SEARS LANE.

>> AND I'M WRAPPING UP THE -- >> IF YOU COULD PLEASE WRAP UP.

>> YEAH.

>> PLEASE WRAP UP.

>> WE'VE BEEN HERE FOR A LONG TIME AND WE'LL BE HERE FOR MUCH LONGER.

THANK YOU.

>> WHOSE IDEAL WOULD IT BE TO HAVE PEOPLE LIVING IN THE KIND OF SQUALOR YOU SAW AT SEARS LANE?

IF YOU SAW A REFUGEE CAMP WITH THOSE CONDITIONS, YOU WOULD WANT THE U.N. TO PROVIDE A REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION, AND SO I FULLY SUPPORT A HOUSING FIRST MODEL.

>> MUTUAL AID AS OPPOSED TO KIND OF A MORE SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST VERSION OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT THAT HUMAN COMMUNITIES DEVELOP THROUGH HELPING EACH OTHER RATHER THAN COMPETING WITH EACH OTHER.

IT'S BOTH KIND OF -- THE ANARCHISTS LIKE TO CLAIM THAT BRAND, BUT EVEN IN THAT MOMENT OF CLAIMING IT, THEY CLAIM IT'S EVERYWHERE.

>> FROM A PRACTICAL POINT OF VIEW, IT'S JUST MAKING SURE THAT EVERYONE'S GOT ENOUGH OF SOMETHING.

AND SO I THINK MUTUAL AID IN ITS BEST OR PUREST FORM RECOGNIZES THAT I BRING SOMETHING TO THE TABLE AND I'M ALSO LACKING SOMETHING.

>> LET'S TRY TO BE FUNNIER, PUTTING ON THE FUNNY HAT.

>> WE ALWAYS SOUND SO TIRED.

>> WE'RE ANARCHISTS IN THE SENSE THAT THIS IS A DISORGANIZATION.

>> I'M MAKING A T-SHIRT THAT SAYS ANARCHY IS EXHAUSTING.

>> IT'S A MOVEMENT OF COLLECTIVES IN DIFFERENT CITIES AROUND THE WORLD THAT SHARE FOOD IN PUBLIC PLACES.

WE ORGANIZE OURSELVES ACCORDING TO ANARCHIST PRINCIPLES, SELF-ORGANIZATION, ANTIHIERARCHICAL.

>> AND AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC, SOMEONE WOULD COME EVERY DAY.

WEA HOUSELESS VETERAN SHOWED UP SOBBING AND I FOUND OUT THAT HIS BROTHER HAD PASSED FROM COVID.

I REMEMBER WHAT I WAS LIKE TO TAKE OFF MY GLOVES AND MY MASK AND KIND OF JUST LEAN FORWARD AND PUT A HAND ON HIS KNEE TO BE WITH SOMEONE WHO IS GRIEVING.

>> HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHAT PROTESTS TO GO TO -- >> WELL, I'M A BLACK WOMAN SO TELL ME I SHOULDN'T PROTEST AND I'LL SAY YOU'RE MISTAKEN, BUT WE TRY TO BE WHEREVER THE MOVEMENT IS.

WE ARE ANTICAPITALIST, BUT WE NEED CAPITAL TO DO WHAT WE DO.

>> I'M ORIGINALLY FROM BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

AS A KID, THE BLACK PANTHERS USED TO FEED US BREAKFAST.

THAT'S WHAT I WAS GETTING AT.

AND WE NEEDED THAT BREAKFAST.

WE WAS BABIES, BUT IT WAS A CRAZY TIME BASED ON HISTORY, BASED ON FAMILY, BASED ON ELDERS HEARING STORIES, AND NOW, I'M AN ELDER, DON'T TELL NOBODY ELSE.

>> WE SORT OF ALL FELT THAT COMING TOGETHER AND CREATING SPACE WHERE WE COULD TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER WOULD HELP US TACKLE ALL SORTS OF ISSUES THAT WE WANTED TO ON CAMPUS.

WHEN WE FOUND OUT EVERYTHING THAT WAS GOING DOWN THAT WHOLE WEEKEND WAS THIS OVERDRIVE SCRAMBLE.

THIS EVENT WAS PLANNED WHEN THE EVICTION WAS GOING TO HAPPEN AT 5:00 P.M. TODAY.

THAT'S BEEN PUSHED BACK A WEEK SO HOPEFULLY, THERE'S AN EVENT, SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

>> THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF PEOPLE JUST ASKING WHAT IS NEEDED IN THIS MOMENT AND THEN IF THEY DON'T RECEIVE ANSWERS, ORGANIZING AMONG EACH OTHER.

>> IT SOUNDS LIKE MUTUAL AID.

>> YEAH.

>> THE NARRATIVE THAT HAS BEEN DRIVEN BY CITY GOVERNMENT AND BY THE MEDIA HERE IS INACCURATE.

THIS IS A PLACE FOR COMMUNITY.

THERE ARE FAMILIES.

♪ ♪ >> THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN CLOSED DOWN.

>> THOSE STRUCTURES ARE BUILT WITH PLYWOOD PALLETS, TARPS.

WE FACE A CRISIS DOWN THERE AND SOMEONE WILL DIE.

THEY WON'T NECESSARILY DIE FROM EXPOSURE.

THEY WILL DIE FROM FIRE OR CARBON MONOXIDE.

>> DON'T WAIT UNTIL WE JUST DISCOVERED THEY SHOULDN'T BE THERE, THAT'S OUR LAND.

KICK THEM OUT.

YOU JUST DON'T TREAT PEOPLE LIKE THAT.

>> WE HAVE RECOVERED NUMEROUS STOLEN VEHICLES THERE.

WE HAVE RESPONDED THERE FOR INCIDENTS OF VIOLENCE.

IT WAS REPORTED TO YOU JUST A WHILE AGO ABOUT AN ARROW THAT WAS SHOT PRESUMABLY FROM THE ENCAMPMENT.

>> WE UNDERSTAND THAT PEOPLE ARE CRIMINALS AND DRUG USERS AND ALSO PEOPLE, HUMANS, THAT SO MANY OF THE CHOICES THAT ARE MADE ARE FORCED CHOICES OR COERCED CHOICES UNDER ALREADY VIOLENT SYSTEMS.

>> I THINK A LOT OF REASONABLE PEOPLE WOULD TURN TO DRUGS IN THAT SITUATION AND THEY DID AND THEY COULDN'T GET A REGULAR JOB.

THEY TURNED TO STEALING THINGS.

SO I WOULD LOVE TO BE A LITTLE MORE FOCUSED ON HOW DID WE GET THERE, RATHER THAN DEFENDING THAT THIS SHOULD BE AN OPTION FOR PEOPLE.

>> SOME PEOPLE TRY TO PAINT EVERYBODY THERE AS A CRIMINAL, AND THAT'S STUPID AND SOME PEOPLE ALSO TRY TO SAY THAT EVERYBODY THERE IS AN AWESOME PERSON OR SORT OF D DEIFY OUR HOUSELESS NEIGHBORS BEYOND A REASONABLE LEVEL BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT SPECIAL.

THEY'RE JUST PEOPLE.

PEOPLE DESERVE TO HAVE THEIR HOMES.

>> FILED AN EMERGENCY INJUNCTION TO JUST ADDRESS WHAT WAS GOING ON.

THANK YOU.

I HAVE SO MUCH MORE CONFIDENCE GOING TO THE COURTHOUSE AND IT'S SCARY FOR ME TO BE CONSIDERING THAT THIS MIGHT BE THE LAST TIME THATHAT WE GET TO COME BACK.

THANK YOU.

>> AND ALSO, I GOT TO HAVE THE PLEASURE OF JUST HANGING OUT ALL DAY PLAYING MUSIC WITH MY FRIENDS, GETTING READY FOR POLICE TO INVADE.

IT'S BEEN A STRANGE DAY.

>> WHO KNOWS YOUR NATIONAL ANTHEM?

NOBODY?

♪ ♪ ♪ SING WITH THE HARMONIES ♪ OF LIBERTY ♪ LET OUR REJOICING RISE (LAUGHS) >> I JUST WISH THEY KNEW HOW TO (BLEEP) CLAP!

[BACKGROUND NOISES] [JACKHAMMERS] [MACHINERY NOISES] >> HAS ANYBODY EVER IN THE CITY PRESENTED THE POLICY AS ESSENTIALLY, AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY -- >> NOT TO MY KNOWLEDGE, NO.

>> AND DOES THE CITY OF BURLINGTON HAVE -- [OVERLAPPING SPEAKERS] >> ON THE CITY'S BEHALF -- >> FOLKS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

I APOLOGIZE THAT WE DON'T HAVE MORE TIME FOR YOU.

I DO HOPE AND EXPECT TO HAVE A DECISION OUT ON THE STANDING QUESTION AS SOON AS I CAN.

>> THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO CONVINCE THE MAYOR ONE MORE TIME.

THEY FAILED.

THEY DON'T HAVE A CHANCE ANYMORE.

>> WE'RE GOING TO INVITE THE COMMUNITY DOWN HERE.

AS ALWAYS THE PLAN WAS TO STAY AS LONG AS WE COULD.

>> ARE YOU EXPECTING A POLICE PRESENCE THIS EVENING?

>> YES.

I EXPECT -- WE'RE EXPECTING THE GATE TO BE LOCKED TODAY.

I EXPECT THEM TO HAVE PEOPLE AROUND WHEN THEY LOCK THE GATE.

>> WE DON'T ALL GET TO CAMP OUT WHEREVER WE WANT TO CAMP OUT AND THAT'S WHAT WAS HAPPENING AT SEARS LANE.

>> I KIND OF WANT TO SHAKE THE (BLEEP) OUT OF SOMEBOY AND BE LIKE WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON WITH YOU PEOPLE?

>> AND PRONOUNS THAT YOU GO BY.

>> SO THEN WE ARE ALSO GOING TO BE FILING ANOTHER MOTION IN COURT TO JUST INTRODUCE MORE INFORMATION OF THE CITY'S PAST RECOGNITION AND ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT THIS IS A DESIGNATED LOCATION FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE UNHOUSED.

>> WE NEED PEOPLE TO HELP CAMPERS WRITE AFFIDAVITS AND SO IT'S GOING TO BE PRETTY SIMPLE.

WHAT WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FOR ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD ANY EXPERIENCE WITH A CITY EMPLOYEE OR OFFICIAL THAT IN ANY WAY INDICATES THAT THAT OFFICIAL KNOWS THAT THE ENCAMPMENT IS HERE AND THEN NOT TELLING YOU YOU HAVE TO LEAVE.

>> I THINK IT'S JUST SUCH A VISCERAL SYMBOL.

WE'RE SPENDING MONEY THAT WE'RE SAYING WE DON'T HAVE FOR HOUSING, WE DON'T HAVE FOR FOOD, WE DON'T HAVE TO ADEQUATELY TAKE CARE OF THESE PEOPLE.

WE'RE SPENDING THIS MONEY TO DESTROY HOMES.

>> BURLINGTON RESIDENTS -- [BACKGROUND CONVERSATION] >> I'M JUST FEELING A LOT OF DIFFERENT EMOTIONS.

I FEEL LIKE EVERYBODY VOTING ON THE RESOLUTION TONIGHT SHOULD FEEL A LOT OF EMOTIONS BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT HUMAN LIFE.

>> HERE IS WHAT IT TAKES FOR AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY LIVING IN BURLINGTON TO INITIATE A GENERATIVE DIALOGUE WITH THE CITY.

FOR ME, THE ONLY OBSTACLE TO THAT CONVERSATION IS THAT THE CITY HAS TO FIRST BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE OUR COMMUNITY.

>> IF YOU COULD SPEAK RIGHT INTO THE MIC PLEASE.

>> I FOUND SOMEWHERE WHERE I FIT AND THE PEOPLE THERE ARE A LOT MORE OF A SOUND MIND THAN ANYWHERE ELSE I'VE BEEN.

>> COUNCILOR, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

>> POINT OF ORDER.

>> WHAT IS YOUR POINT OF ORDER, COUNCILOR SHANNON?

>> THE PROPOSED ACTION CONSTITUTES A RECONSIDERATION OF AN ACTION TAKEN ON OCTOBER 25th.

OUR COUNCIL RULES NOW READ, A MOTION TO RECONSIDER MAY ONLY BE MADE AT THE SAME OR THE NEXT SUCCEEDING MEETING AS THE ORIGINAL MOTION.

>> I WILL ALLOW THE DEBATE TO CONTINUE.

>> THIS IS NOT ABOUT WHAT YOU THINK WE SHOULD DO ON SEARS LANE.

WE DON'T DEBATE THE SAME THING TWICE.

>> WE HAVE NOT SEEN SOLUTIONS THAT PROTECT HUMAN LIFE AND WE HAVE NOT SEEN CONSIDERABLE CHANGES MADE THAT WOULD MAKE ME FEEL COMFORTABLE OR SHOULD MAKE ANY OF US FEEL COMFORTABLE.

>> WILL THE CITY CLERK PLEASE CALL -- IF YOU SUPPORT COUNCILOR SHANNON'S MOTION, YOU VOTE YES, IF YOU DO NOT, YOU VOTE NO.

>> COUNCILOR BARLOW.

>> YES.

>> COUNCILOR CARPENTER.

>> YES.

>> YES.

>> COUNCILOR FREEMAN.

>> NO.

>> COUNCILOR HANSON.

>> NO.

>> COUNCILOR MASON.

>> YES.

>> COUNCILOR PAUL.

>> YES.

>> COUNCILOR McGEE.

>> NO.

>> COUNCILOR SHANNON.

>> YES.

>> COUNCILOR STRONGBERG.

>> NO.

>> CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT TRACY.

>> NO.

>> SIX AYES, FIVE NAYS.

>> SHAME ON YOU.

THEY ARE (BLEEP) PEOPLE.

I'M GOING TO HAVE TO BE DRAGGED OUT.

THERE'S (BLEEP) PEOPLE.

YOU DON'T HAVE THE DECENCY TO DISCUSS IT?

I WANT TO KNOW.

WHAT ARE THEY SUPPOSED TO DO?

>> POINT OF ORDER, PRESIDENT TRACY.

>> COUNCILOR MASON.

>> WILL THE MAYOR BE ADDRESSING IN HIS GENERAL COMMENTS AN UPDATE ON WHAT THE ADMINISTRATION IS DOING AND ITS PLANS BETWEEN NOW AND NEXT MEETING TO ADDRESS -- [YELLING] >> THEY'RE NOT DOING (BLEEP).

>> WE WILL MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT ITEM, WHICH IS THE -- >> I WANT YOU GUYS TO LOOK AT THEIR EYES.

TELL CHERYL, TELL GAB BE THAT YOU DON'T CARE WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO LIVE.

THESE ARE REAL PEOPLE.

THIS IS NOT AN AGENDA ITEM.

THIS IS NOT APARTMENTS.

THESE ARE REAL (BLEEP) PEOPLE.

>> WILL YOU PLEASE ALLOW US TO CONTINUE WITH OUR MEETING?

>> I GUESS SO BECAUSE YOU DON'T (BLEEP) CARE.

[YELLING] >> HAVE SOME DECENCY.

>> OUR NEXT ITEM IS ITEM 6.03, WHICH IS A COMMUNICATION FROM THE MAYOR.

>> THE CITY IS NEVER GOING TO FUNCTION IF YOU KEEP HAVING THE SAME DEBATE OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

THIS WAS TWISTED INTO HOW DARE YOU KICK PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR HOMES, RIGHT BEFORE WINTER.

WE WERE PUTTING PEOPLE INTO A SAFE ENVIRONMENT.

>> A PROGRAM GIVES PEOPLE A ROOF OVER THEIR HEAD, BUT THEY'RE PLACES WHERE PEOPLE FIND IT VERY HARD TO STAY CLEAN, IF THEY'RE IN RECOVERY IT'S A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE START DRINKING MORE ACCESSIBLY BECAUSE OFTENTIMES PEOPLE AREN'T ALLOWED TO LEAVE THEIR HOTEL ROOMS FOR MORE THAN TWO HOURS A DAY.

>> THE ONLY PEOPLE LIVING AT SEARS LANE WERE PEOPLE, THEY HAD OTHER OPTIONS.

>> TAKE AS MANY AS YOU WANT, BUT IF YOU'RE NOT PUTTING THEM UP, THEN DON'T TAKE IT.

>> WHAT DO THEY SAY?

>> BLACK LIVES MATTER.

>> THEY SAY (BLEEP) JOAN SHANNON.

BECAUSE SHE'S A (BLEEP) HEAD.

>> OH.

>> SO WE GAVE THEM SEVEN SUBPOENAS AND IT'S BECOMING REALLY CLEAR THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO SUPPRESS INFORMATION THAT WE CAN JUST USE TO TAKE THEM TO COURT.

♪ ♪ >> AT LEAST T THEY SAID -- THATS IMPORTANT.

I HAVE NO PLACE TO GO.

MY OWN PLACE WAS HERE, THIS ONE.

I HOPE THEY HAVE A PLACE TO GO.

>> I JUST WANT TO CRY.

I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M HERE TONIGHT.

HAVEN'T WE HAD ENOUGH ENOUGH REAL ESTATE DEVELOPERS AND POLITICS, PARTICULARLY THOSE THAT AREN'T VERY GOOD AT IT.

>> THE IMAGE OF A BULLDOZER LIFTING TENTS INTO A DUMPSTER STUCK IN MY HEAD.

>> WE HAVE NOTHING TO DO BUT TRACK DOWN DUMPSTERS FULL OF PEOPLE'S DESTROYED BELONGINGS.

>> WHEN I VOLUNTEERED DOWN HERE, AND I SEE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST FORGOTTEN, WHO ARE TREATED LIKE TRASH.

>> THERE IS VERY LITTLE THAT I CAN DO, BUT I MIGHT KNOW SOMEBODY WHO CAN DO SOMETHING AND A LOT OF THE SEARS LANE WORK WAS LIKE THAT.

>> I THINK THAT MUTUAL AID SHOWS WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS AND WHAT IT ACTUALLY NEEDS.

PEOPLE WHO HAVE SO LITTLE JUST BEING ABLE AND WILLING TO SHARE WHAT THEY DO HAVE.

>> I WELCOME THAT TYPE OF GOODNESS IN MY LIFE AND I LOVE SHARING THAT TYPE OF GOODNESS, AS WELL.

>> THIS COMMUNITY BLOWS MY MIND.

JUST THE WAY THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO RALLY AND SHOW UP AND GIVE GOOD VIBES.

IT'S ASTOUNDING TO ME AND I'M REALLY LOVING YOU ALL.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> VERMONT PUBLIC, PARTNERING WITH LOCAL FILMMAKERS TO BRING YOU STORIES MADE HERE.

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