VT Liberty crowd also hears about sad history of Progressive race theory legislation in Vermont

by Guy Page

“Through my years as an officer, I have never seen any officer discriminate because of wealth, color, religion or sex. Believe me if I did, I would step in and correct it,” said a letter from a 20-year Vermont police officer. “Here is a saying that is true: no-one hates a bad cop worse than the good ones.”

This first-person account of what it’s like to be a Vermont police officer today was read by Liz Grearson at a well-attended Vermont Liberty event Saturday, May 15 at the Vermont State House. It was written as an “open letter” (meant to be read to the public) by a police officer friend who wishes to remain anonymous.

“I have seen public perception change over the years,” the police officer said, explaining why the Thin Blue Line flag is a sign or respect for a valuable, noble profession:

“Police are the thin blue line between order and chaos, between right and wrong and we use that flag to honor the ones we have lost and serve in this profession. That is the meaning. Nothing more, nothing less. You call 9-1-1, we respond. No one asks what your social status is, what your color is, what race you are or what sex or religion you are. We answer the call. People not do not get into this profession for the money. We do it because it’s truly a calling to help and serve our community.”

Other speakers included John Klar, speaking about vaccination, the Vermont Legislature, and the Constitution.

Guy Page showed how Vermont Progressive elites in the 1920’s cited the 1905 Jacobsen U.S. Supreme Court decision (allowing a State to require vaccination) to justify the State requiring sterilization of racial, mental and physical ‘defectives.’ Page mentioned the award granted by Nazi scientists to a Virginia physician who was inspired by Vermont’s forced sterilization law. He also cited last week’s words of Sen. Brian Collamore (R-Rutland), during the Vermont Senate’s formal apology for its role in 1920’s eugenics legislation:

“One tragedy of this so called Progressive era is that significant harm was done in the name of human betterment. In other words, what was thought to be the right thing.”

The Vermont Legislature passed its first eugenics bill in the early 1920’s, only to have it vetoed by Gov. Fletcher on Constitutional grounds. Undeterred, the State of Vermont executive apparatus proceeded with eugenics policy anyway, and a year or two later the Legislature passed and a new governor approved a bill sanctioning eugenics measures.

“This is what happens when government cares more about race theory than the Constitution,” Page said.