Date:         Tue, 27 Apr 1999 07:46:02 -0400
From:         Ron Jacobs <rjacobs@ZOO.UVM.EDU>
Subject:      Antiwarriors occupy Bernie Sanders office

April 27, 1999

        Yesterday, April 26, 1999, a rally and march were held in Burlington,
Vermont, USA against the U.S. war on Yugoslavia.  Approximately 100 people
attended the 45 minute rally at the University of Vermont campus  and then
marched down Main Street.  The destination of the march were the local
offices of Vermont three congressional members: Senators Leahy (Dem.) and
Jeffords (Rep.), and Rep. Bernie Sanders.  The purpose of these visits was
to present petitions calling for "an immediate end to the bombing, a return
to the negotiating table… and no introduction of NATO ground forces to the
conflict".  These 1,000 signatures on these petitions were collected in a
little over two weeks time.

        At Senator Leahy's office, a small delegation of demonstrators went into
the office, presented the petitions and were served cookies.  At Senator
Jeffords' office, the delegation that went inside asked for and received a
conference call with Mr. Jeffords' foreign policy advisor in Washington,
D.C..  From there, we headed to Bernie Sanders' office at the top of
Burlington's downtown pedestrian mall (Church Street).  Once we arrived at
the office building , the remaining protestors (approximately 30 in all)
headed inside and up the stairs to Sanders' office.  We were met by his
staff who presented us with a written statement by Mr. Sanders concerning
his support of the bombing.  Those present read the statement and then
asked a member of the staff if we could hold a conference call with Bernie
and give him a chance to justify his position.  We were told this was not
possible because Sanders was on a plane to Washington, D.C. and he did not
own a cell phone.  So we sat down and informed the staff that we would wait
until we could speak with Sanders.

        Seattle musician Jim Page happens to be in Burlington this week and he had
accompanied us on the march.  While we sat in the office, he played guitar
and sang songs in between discussions about the war, the killings in
Littleton, CO., the arrogance of liberals in power and numerous other
subjects took place.  As time passed, it became clear that Bernie had no
intention of talking to us.  After conversations out of our earshot, the
primary staffperson informed us that we could meet with Bernie next Tuesday
if we made an appointment.  This suggestion was rejected out of hand; the
reasoning being that hundreds more would die in the interim.  Time ticked on.

        Around 5:30 PM, we were asked again if we wanted to accept the meeting
with Bernie next Tuesday.  We agreed to the meeting but also insisted on
speaking with Sanders that day.  Furthermore, we affirmed that we would not
leave the office until we spoke with Bernie that evening.  We were than
told that our choice was to either leave then and meet with Sanders next
week or stay until we were removed and not meet with the congressmen at
all.  At 6:00 PM or so, we were asked once again if we would assent to this
arrangement.  Once again we said no.  At 6:45 PM, Burlington police
officers began arresting the 15 protestors who refused to leave when asked.
 This was done at the request of Congressman Sanders and his staff.  The
arrests were conducted in an orderly fashion and all were released later in
the evening.

        This was the first time Sanders office had ever been occupied.  One has to
wonder if it will be the last, given his continual drift rightward.  (For
those who live in Vermont-There will be a Vermont town meeting on the war
with Sanders in Montpelier, VT. on Monday, May 3, 1999 at the Pavilion.
The meeting begins at 7:00 PM.  Please come and bring your friends.)
-Ron Jacobs, Burlington, VT.