A very large rally in support of Vermont's democracy and sovereignty in the face of Entergy Corporation's defiance is just winding up as I post these photos. Speakers included Vermont Governor and Windham County native Peter Shumlin, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, Vermont Attorney-General Bill Sorrell, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Brattleboro native Jody Williams, State Senator Jeanette White, State Rep. Sarah Edwards, and Citizens' Awareness Network executive director Deb Katz. A message from US Congressman Peter Welch was read. All spoke out against Entergy's untrustworthiness and recalcitrance in opposing the will of Vermont's voters and democratically elected government by refusing to close the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant, whose permit has now expired.
The crowd, estimated at 1500-2000, included many visitors from Massachusetts, whose border lies roughly 9 miles (15 km) south of Brattleboro.
Attorney-General Sorrell noted the pernicious influence of the U.S. Supreme Court's Citizens United decision, giving corporations equal protection under the U.S. Constitution's Bill of Rights as "legal persons," and vowed to fight it. Senator Sanders has proposed a constitutional amendment that would revoke this protection and significantly limit the ability of corporations to contribute to political campaigns, lobby, and buy corrupt politicians.
[Posted later:] See also this news report from Boston.com.
PHOTO #1: Senator Bernie Sanders speaking, seen from the rear of the crowd.
PHOTO #2: Words of encouragement for Governor Shumlin, inspired by his encounter with black bears in his yard two nights before.
PHOTO #3: Words of warning.
PHOTO #4: Governor Shumlin at the podium.
PHOTO #5: As many as 1500-2000 people showed up on the Brattleboro Common in the warm spring weather. (Brattleboro's population is around 12,000.)
PHOTO #6: U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, seen here leaving the Common.
