By VDC staff
Two regional press advocacy organizations are calling on the Vermont Truth & Reconciliation Commission to rescind planned restrictions on recording, photography and interviews during a public event scheduled Friday at St. Johnsbury Elementary School.
In a letter dated Nov. 14, the New England First Amendment Coalition (NEFAC) and the Vermont Press Association (VPA) urged VTRC Executive Director Dr. Faith Yacubian to withdraw a rule barring journalists from documenting the proceedings without prior permission from both the commission and participants.
The restriction, the groups said, conflicts with constitutional protections and Vermont’s Open Meeting Law.
The VTRC, created to examine institutional harm experienced by Vermonters in areas such as child welfare, mental health, policing and housing, is hosting public “truth-telling” sessions around the state. NEFAC and the VPA said they appreciate the vulnerability of participants and the commission’s efforts to create a supportive environment, but insisted that public access cannot be curtailed in violation of established law.
“Recording, photography, and interviews are not allowed inside the truth-telling space unless explicit permission is granted by the Commission and by those directly involved,” the commission told the press in guidance for Friday’s program. NEFAC and the VPA say that crosses a legal line.
“The First Amendment and the Vermont Constitution provide strong protections for journalists covering government-led meetings in public spaces,” the groups wrote. They cited federal case law — including Glik v. Cunniffe — affirming the right to record public officials, as well as Vermont Constitution Article 6, which defines public officers as “trustees and servants” accountable to the people.
Vermont’s Open Meeting Law likewise states that public agencies “exist to aid in the conduct of the people’s business,” and the Secretary of State’s 2019 guide explicitly affirms the public’s right to record meetings so long as doing so is not disruptive.
“Recording… cannot be considered disruptive on its own and cannot be limited at your sole discretion,” the letter said.
The groups emphasized that they recognize the sensitivity of testimony expected at VTRC sessions. Still, they said, the commission must respect journalists’ rights under state and federal law.
At minimum, they requested that the commission make any restriction on recording and interviews optional rather than mandatory and notify reporters of the change before Friday’s event.
The letter was signed by NEFAC Executive Director Justin Silverman and VPA Executive Director Michael Donoghue.
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Categories: Media
The event in question is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 14
You know a truth and reconciliation commission’s first job would be to restrict free speech. And ignore the constitution.
You are correct!
Dr. Faith Yacubian, (she/her/they/them). Executive Director of the State of Vermont’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission; Faith has a noteworthy career spanning 17 years at Champlain College.
Faith has a wealth of experience and a passionate drive for change. As an Associate Professor in Interdisciplinary Studies, Faith’s work has centered on empowering students through innovative teaching methods informed by Social Justice Education, Queer Theory, and Black Feminist Epistemology. [Guided by] a profound belief – in humanitarianism and community empowerment – Faith’s commitment is further exemplified by her involvement in the Shelburne Equity and Diversity Committee and dedicated volunteer services at the Winooski Food Shelf since 2020. Isn’t Shelburne one of the wealthiest communities in Vermont, with a high median household income and some of the most expensive real estate in the state? It is often ranked as the second or third wealthiest town based on income, and a notable billionaire also lives there.
You can’t make this stuff up: her MO is Post-Colonial Theory, Feminist Theories, Queer Theory, and Critical Whiteness Studies and academic-activist. She ‘filters’ her scholarly queries through the [insights and stories] provided by community-activists and advocacy organizations in Burlington and Winooski – not necessarily fact based.
Amanda Lucia Garcés (she/her/ella) brings decades (?) of experience in social justice advocacy. She founded the Vermont Coalition for Ethnic and Social Equity in Schools, bringing together multi-generational BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) leaders, disability rights advocates, and LGBTIQA+ communities. The coalition successfully championed the passage of the Ethnic Studies and Social Equity Working Group Law. Today, the coalition—now named the Education Justice Coalition—is led by a new generation of advocates, empowering youth to drive change in Vermont’s schools, hopefully after they learn to read.
…. and you thought Zohran Mamdani was interesting.
Vermont is becoming increasingly unrecognizable.
https://vtrc.vermont.gov/about-us/commissioners-staff
Liars and fibers tell their stories best in the dark wifh no ability to counter their claims. And clearly they don’t want a permanent undeniable record.