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By Guy Page
A reader has contacted VDC expressing concern about the annual Migrant Justice soccer tournament, scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 16, at the Essex Tree Farm Soccer Complex.
Migrant Justice is an advocacy group for Spanish-speaking immigrants to Vermont, including illegal immigrants. In recent months Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials have detained immigrants at some work sites and begun deportation proceedings. Migrant Justice has been a vocal opponent of deportation of illegal aliens.
The event is publicized on the Migrant Justice Facebook page. Accompanying a video of past tournaments, the post says “We’re only one week away until the big tournament of Migrant Justice! See you at Tree Farm Soccer Complex next Saturday (August 16) for a day of competition, food and community.
The reader, who is known to VDC as a Spanish translator to Vermont’s immigrant community, asked to remain unnamed due to concern about retaliation.
The reader said the event draws hundreds of Mexican and Central American farmworkers from Vermont and surrounding states, many of whom are in the country without legal documentation and may be driving without licenses or insurance. The tournament begins at 11 AM, but the reader said participants typically arrive between 9 and 10 AM, potentially creating heavier traffic in the area.
The VDC reader also claimed the event involves heavy alcohol consumption, including underage drinking, and that intoxicated drivers may be on the road after the tournament ends around 6 PM. The reader urged the public to “use extra caution on the roadways that day and to plan their events and errands accordingly.”
In addition to safety concerns, the reader criticized Migrant Justice’s handling of the event, saying each of the 24 participating teams pays $950 in cash to enter, with winning teams receiving medals rather than cash prizes. They also alleged that food and beverage sales at the event come from “unlicensed food vendors” and that Migrant Justice does not provide complimentary food or water.
Migrant Justice, a Vermont-based nonprofit advocating for farmworker rights, describes the tournament on its website as a community celebration and fundraiser. The organization did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the reader’s allegations.
The Essex Police Department has not issued any public advisories related to the tournament as of press time.
According to the Migrant Justice website, the 2009 death of a farmworker on a Vermont farm ‘inspired the production of the documentary film Silenced Voices and led to the creation of the collective Vermont Migrant Farmworker Solidarity Project (VTMFSP). It also served as a catalyst for Vermont’s immigrant farmworkers to begin to come together. With support from VTMFSP, farmworkers organized regional assemblies to share food, build community, and discuss the common problems that they faced. Community leaders emerged from each assembly to form a statewide Farmworker Coordinating Committee. With the new leadership structure in place, Migrant Justice was born, the first and only organization founded and led by immigrant farmworkers in the state.”
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Categories: Border, Community Events, Sports
Claims in this article make me question if this is news or hearsay, particularly the statements of “many of whom are in the country without legal documentation and may be driving without licenses or insurance.” as well as “The VDC reader also claimed the event involves heavy alcohol consumption, including underage drinking, and that intoxicated drivers may be on the road after the tournament ends around 6 PM.” Articles like this lower the standard of this website. This is nothing but a Facebook post pretending to be news. It has a cautionary tone even though there is nothing to back it up. “The Essex Police Department has not issued any public advisories related to the tournament as of press time.” Probably because there doesn’t need to be one. If there was evidence of previous years being troublesome it should be noted. Otherwise this is article is stoking concern about something celebratory. Might as well write this article about Thunder Road every Thursday night. Warn people that fans might drink and might drive while intoxicated. They might not have insurance because one attendee said so. Come on, now. Stop stoking fear about people in our community. So unnecessary.
I see your point. But also: Pot. Kettle. Black.
If you are going to call out anonymous sources and fear mongering, do it with an even eye, mind, heart, and hand.
“Article is stoking concern about something celebratory.”
I don’t think we should be celebrating lawbreaking and lawbreakers.
ICYMI: Rosato commentary published in Vermont Daily Chronicle:
https://vermontdailychronicle.com/rosato-defending-parent-of-child-holding-f-trump-sign/
“The difference is that Trump supporters willingly disrobe their adult dignity and shed their ability to question authority in an effort to support whatever he says. In a disgusting display of affection they splash in his words as giddy toddlers in a pool. They marinate in the vicious attacks on illegal immigrants, citizens, and American institutions alike. Trump supporters chastise Biden for losing his mind, but when Trump says immigrants eat neighbor’s pets they salivate like Pavlov’s dogs. They criticize Hunter Biden for profiting from his father’s political career, but when Trump’s family profits from his presidency they invest in his companies. This, my friends, is exploitation of grown men and women alike, treating them like freaks on a leash.”
In the comments section of his commentary, Rosato stated, “I don’t get the opportunity to talk to trump fans ever. I would like to. It’d be even better in person.” One has to wonder how he drew conclusions about the character of Trump supporters when he has not interacted with them personally.
As someone who has attended this event multiple times over the years, I can attest to the veracity of the claims.This event used to be held at Leddy Park in Burlington, however, due to a multitude of complaints and problems (many centered around alcohol/disorderly conduct/fights/noise complaints from the nearby Hannaford/troublesome behavior in the Hannaford parking lot..to name a few) the event moved to Essex a couple of years ago. I suspect that police have not yet been called to the new Essex locale not because the behaviors have changed (and trust me they have not) but simply bc of the relative geographical isolation- no one is close enough to witness or hear anything.
And I am wagering a guess that you maybe don’t speak to many farmers or have much contact with the dairy industry in VT. Those of us who do work in or around it are well aware that 99% of the workers are here illegally and use fake/stolen SS cards in order to ontain employment on the farms. No one wants to talk about it but the reality is that farmers turn a blind eye to the questionable documents they are shown when they are filling out the
I-9s.That is simply how it is done here on the farms. So anyway, the claim regarding the workers’ lack of legal status also rings true to me. The lack of DL’s, insurance and registration is also grounded in reality based on my experience. I don’t believe it is fear mongering to bring these issues to light as many people are unaware of these things.
“The Essex Police Department has not issued any public advisories related to the tournament as of press time.” I think Guy exercised due diligence here.
You are simply sayingh that a person with first hand experience that challenges your own point of view should be discredited. Caution has been advised.
Legal migrant workers are a necessity here in Vertaxmont. Let’s propose ways to expand the green card workforce so that illegals don’t have to be that. Businesses that utilize migrant workers can facilitate and coordinate the process. Support a legal process in addition to IC enforcement.
“Green card” permanent residency? No. 2 year renewable guest work authorization? Sure
Trump has propesed that. the fascist Left directs people to resist Trump at every opportunity, to disregard anything he says. Even when an idea might seem to work they resist it. It was a Bolshevick tactic to oppose labor unions for the same reason. “If we don’t fix it then let it remain broken.”
LEGAL MIGRANTS WITH WORK VISAS are totally different than people here illegally that we know are working on these Farms! They need to be detained by ICE and deported! I don’t pay taxes for my tax money to be spent on people in this Country illegally! I have no problem with the legal Migrants. They have been coming here forever. Working and then going home! No Sympathy for illegals. There are people working hard to come here legally! Arrest and Deport all the illegals. Sounds like that’s the perfect event to do it!
Migrant Justice, Inc. is yet another Vermont 501(c)3 NGO ostensibly providing for the public good, using tax deductible (i.e., taxpayer subsidized) donations of course.
Migrant Justice had $613,342 in annual revenue last year and, yes, 73% of its revenue ($448,114) paid the salaries, wages and related payroll expenses for the company’s unnamed employees.
Claimed to have raised close to $1M this year. Vermont Construction Co. cut them a check for “Public image “ damage control for “over-site “ 9 months ago when they got busted with a building full of illegal alien workers in plywood bunks. This “migrant justice “ Will Lembak need to be investigated for aiding , harboring as well as assisting in legal entry
😡😡😡😡😡😡
All Vermont law enforcement professionals are hereby ordered to stand down and ignore all infractions in or around this special cultural event. Should be no problem since DUI is virtually unheard of in Vermont’s Latino farmworker community.
Rich, have you been to Thunder Road? They literally have a section called ‘Bud Hill’ where empty beer cans are tossed into a concrete gutter and collect at the bottom of the hill. Law enforcement professionals literally direct traffic as a bunch of drunk fans roll out the parking lot. I wonder if you hold white people to the same cynical standard as you do Latino farmworkers.
Calling Tom Homan, calling Tom Homan. Round them up Tom.
That’s the message with this article. And precisely why it doesn’t belong on a news website. I was giving this site a chance to be above the fray, but mired in bias it is. An echo chamber. Admittedly, there are articles here I don’t get elsewhere and I’ve enjoyed them. But this is just ridiculous. I even listened to Guy speak on WDMV and the Morning Drive. He talked a good talk about journalism, only to follow it up with this surface level “reporting.” Clearly written to disparage the event and its attendees.
Entering the country illegally and then:
AI generated:
Illegal migrants typically use the following methods to pay taxes and obtain taxpayer identification numbers (TINs):
Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN): Immigrants without a Social Security Number (SSN) can apply for an ITIN through the IRS to file taxes.
Social Security Numbers (SSNs): Many illegal migrants use illegally obtained or forged SSNs to work, as employers may report earnings to the Social Security Administration (SSA) using these numbers.
Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TINs): Some illegal migrants may also use TINs to comply with tax laws, although the specific type of TIN they may use is not detailed in the sources.
These methods allow illegal migrants to legally file taxes and contribute to Social Security while avoiding the formalities associated with obtaining an SSN.
Nick: “I even listened to Guy speak on WDMV and the Morning Drive. He talked a good talk about journalism, only to follow it up with this surface level “reporting.” Clearly written to disparage the event and its attendees.”
Consider your own bias when ingesting and accepting MSM portraits of Trump, supporters of Trump’s policies, MAGA/MAHA, Trump’s policies themselves, all of whom/which you were allowed to openly disparage in Vermont Daily Chronicle.
Renee, I don’t know what you’re saying here. I blame it on the fact we’re not talking in person and are instead commenting online. Suffice it to say, i believe my point about the lack of journalism in this article is stark. The article should be relegated to commentary rather than posing as news. If you want to comment on that I could probably follow along. Hitting against my reputation probably doesn’t move the needle on this forum. I’m already frowned upon by most. Probably no more than H. Jay Eshelman 🙂
I am saying you are double minded, Nick. Also known as being a hypocrite.
With definitive sounding semantics you say very little, except to defame any opinions but your own. E.g.: Your description of Thunder Hill actually answeres your objection. In reality, who are you?
I always find it funny how people disappointedly say they gave this site a chance, yet they keep coming back to it, to comment.
If it were really the echo chamber poison they claim, they’d have walked away long ago. The fact they’re here again proves they’re getting something out of it, and I’m confident they’ll be back yet again to try to delegitimize it and stroke their own sense of self righteousness. I think they like the conflict.
Matt, I do like the conflict. More recently, I’m using this site to try to understand how republicans are willing to give up local control in favor of federal power. Seems like blasphemy for real republicans.
Having lived in Central America for 2 years, the atmosphere at any of their soccer games and other community celebrations is usually an excuse for bringing out the alcohol and some raucous behaviors. Not surprising that the home atmosphere has moved north when they gather here.
If we were to go to Timbuktu and it was someone’s birthday, someone very likely would figure out a way to bake a cake and put candles on it even if it wasn’t a local tradition. Hispanic immigrants are doing likewise – only this tradition has a bit different complexion. Viva la fiesta! Y disfruta de los juegos. Long live the party and enjoy the games.
The irony of naming an organization “migrant justice” when the bulk of them are victims of human trafficking and criminal conduct – kidnapped, assaulted, used and abused like cattle being driven through turnstyles – all with impunity. They are coerced, controlled, and managed with threats and fear tactics. What incentives they are given is bribery to gag their mouths shut, work under the table like dogs, or as butt wipers as Becca pointed out. The modern slave trade under the disquise of citizenship for the American dream – only to discover it’s a scam and wrought with evil. Welcome to our nightmare – we think you are going to like it or else!
Whoa! Hundreds of drunken drivers were arrested yesterday leaving the soccer tournament. Underage drinkers were seen stumbling to their bicycles while a food truck was secretly distributing fake social security cards. Tom Homan said the scene was so apocolyptic he retreated in fear. The only legal citizen who attended the event wants to remain anonymous said ‘these people kicked a ball around a field and only let one player on each team use their hands! How discriminatory! They had smiles on their faces like they were having fun!’ The humane society didn’t release a statement about pets being eaten at the event, despite a potential warning from one concerned citizen named Donald Trump.
This comment is a frenetic babble. You are fronting for the fascist Left. You even harp on a inane comment made by Trump years ago. He never even directed it at the entire migrant community. Furthermore, some dietary customs of Esat Asians are unsettling in our culture. Maybe even illegal.
This is called parody, Scott. Welcome to the style. It is a humorous response to this article which is nothing but a mechanism to stoke fear and hope that ICE would show up and tackle some illegal migrants. The comments on this thread show how willing people are to demonize migrants. I love how you end your comment with “maybe even illegal.” That’s precisely what I’m pointing at. Stoking fear with a ‘maybe’. Also to correct your comment, RE: ‘inane comment made by Trump years ago.’ He said it less than a year ago. And it wasn’t inane. It was intended to stoke fear and demonize. And as far as your fascist comment, it is the republicans who are now laying down to the whims of Trump; favoring his power grab over state and local control. I wonder how many trump supports will support his next presidential campaign. I look forward to this website’s slow creep toward convincing citizens that Trump For Life is better than anything. It has started. And few republicans are speaking against it. That is how fascism takes over.
Perhaps the real problem ailing people’s heads is they believe in the left/right paradigm – divide and conquer – good cop/bad cop – crips v. bloods. They all feed off the same hog trough filled with our collective labor. They are all performing according to their corporate masters and foreign handlers.
The memory hole of how this all got started way back is lost in the inane bickering and posturing. Propaganda works! Best prepare for the rug pull – it’s closer than many comprehend – or simply remain enthralled in the clown show – it is what they work so hard at while stealing and leveraging every last asset and resource.