by Amy Hornblas, Director, Vermont Stands Up    

Six years after our state was locked down and government officials imposed mitigation measures to “slow the spread” and “flatten the curve” of the Covid-19 virus, Vermonters are finally being invited inside the statehouse to share how the restrictions imposed by our local government officials impacted their lives.

The Covid Public Hearing, organized by Vermont Stands Up, invites members of the public to share how the lock downs, visitation and business restrictions, reduced access to healthcare services, face mask requirements, school closures and vaccines affected them personally.

Participants will have three options to testify, one in-person Public Forum at the Vermont statehouse on the evening of Wednesday, March 25th and two online sessions where participants can record their testimony remotely.

Organizers have put together a short film which gathers examples of previous testimony recorded at events and meetings since 2020. It documents the numerous times that members of the public have shared their experiences in an attempt to influence government-imposed Covid response measures:

“I didn’t resign. I was fired. I was discharged from my job. I was told that I had to attest that I had received the COVID shot or submit to periodic testing and dawn a mask at the workplace like a proverbial leper. I would be the only one with a mask on…”

“Consider that we have been urged to act as if we were all sick until proven healthy… we all love our friends and family and generally don’t wish to harm others.”

“…just the hopelessness. The kids were forgotten. That was the worst part.”

“There’s no rhyme or reason for any of it. Nobody will listen to anything. We went to the school boards. We’ve gone to different meetings. It’s just like knocking on the door and nobody will listen. I don’t know how to change the process.”

“Our children complain about this. I’m sure you guys see it in the classroom, those of you who deal with it, I’m sure it’s very stressful on your end. We also hear about it every single day, how they hate wearing the mask, how they get headaches and they say It’s just not good for me. And it is giving them social issues as well.”

“…there’s no legislative due process happening. There’s no public testimony allowed… We need these things to happen.”

In the film the organizer of the upcoming forum, Amy Hornblas, can be seen on the statehouse steps in 2021 asking two questions: “What is the Vermont Department of Health’s process for weighing the evidence and conducting an ongoing cost benefit analysis of their health policies related to COVID and how can the public participate in that process?”

She continues to explain that in order to assess the effectiveness of their health policies, the Department of Health needs an open line of communication. Testimony should be taken from the community members most affected by these health policies.

“Business owners, health care providers, parents, patients and youth, we all have valuable input to share. Without our testimony, how can the Department of Health conduct a fair assessment?”

In an ongoing attempt to engage the Department of Health in a conversation about their recommended Covid measures, Hornblas submitted an information request to the Vermont Department of Health in January asking them about their face mask recommendations.

In response the department of health provided evidence that thy received training on the limitations, need for proper supervision and risks of masks and respirators in November of 2019, as well as warnings from the World Health Organization of the need to track the known harms of masks, especially for elders and children. However, Hornblas asserts that they did not appear to acknowledge or address the numerous complaints of harm they received about their mask guidance throughout the Covid emergency.

Organizers see this public forum as an opportunity for healing. “It’s an opportunity to clear the air and help our communities begin healing. Not only was the government’s decision-making process removed from the public, but our communities were also torn apart. We were encouraged to distrust each other and stigmatize those who who were harmed the most by the government’s policies. It was brutal and it needs to be acknowledged so that there can be better decision-making in the future.”

Public officials from every party and every level of government are also encouraged to attend. The forum will give caring decision-makers, many of whom were asked to create policies enforcing Covid protocols, the opportunity to hear personal stories which have been omitted from of the mainstream media and engage in conversations which were not permitted during the Covid emergency.

There will be an in-person Public Hearing on the Covid Response Measures at the Vermont Statehouse on Wednesday, March 25th at 7:00 pm. There will also be two online hearings which will allow participants to record their testimony remotely.

Registration for the event, links to the film and other details are available on the Vermont Stands Up website: VermontStandsUp.org