UVM anti-racism protesters on Main Street Credit: Sadie Williams

A crowd of approximately 100 University of Vermont anti-racism protesters, waving signs, chanting and forming a human chain, caused rush-hour havoc Thursday in Burlington by demonstrating in the middle of Main Street.

Police shut down the busy roadway near the South Prospect Street intersection after students set up a roadblock around 5 p.m. and refused to leave until they met with UVM president Tom Sullivan. Diverted traffic flooded side streets in an effort to get to Interstate 89 after the demonstration began.

Many of those protesting said they stood in solidarity with John Mejia, a UVM staffer who has vowed to refrain from eating until the university and the city of Burlington address a list of nine demands.

The assembled included second-year graduate students from the Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration program who staged a walkout and didn’t sit for their final exam.

“Everybody has to sacrifice something in the movement,” Doretha Benn said. When asked if she was worried about failing her class and not being able to graduate, Benn said, “I think we should never be penalized for standing up for what we believe in.”

As the evening wore on, the students distributed hand warmers, scarves, coffee and food. A handful of UVM staffers also mingled with the students.

Shortly before 8 p.m., UVM’s vice provost for student affairs Annie Stevens addressed the protesters. “President Sullivan isn’t available tonight,” she said to a chorus of jeers and boos from the crowd. “He does want to meet and will reach out to whoever you want him to reach out to.”

The announcement ended the road blockade, and vehicle traffic on Main Street resumed. The students then marched their way to the Waterman Building to reconvene. Once inside, organizers pledged to continue with their protest actions until their demands were recognized.

Waterman was also the site of a protest Tuesday, when students gathered to decry several racist incidents on campus and urge university administrators to heed Mejia’s demands, which include permanently flying a Black Lives Matter flag on campus and increasing funding for anti-racism events.

In response to the latest demonstration, UVM spokesman Enrique Corredera said in a statement that the university “does not condone any activity that can result in serious unintended consequences.”

“Taking over a major intersection in the city of Burlington, and impacting the lives of thousands of individuals and families is such an activity,” he wrote.

Corredera said that Sullivan “welcomes” a meeting with the organizers and vowed “to continue a dialog with students.”

“The university will remain focused on the work it is doing to advance its diversity and inclusion goals, and will continue to speak out against every form of racism, bigotry and injustice on our campus,” Corredera’s statement read.

Related Stories

Kymelya Sari was a Seven Days staff writer 2015-19.

42 replies on “UVM Students Block Traffic to Pile Pressure on University President”

  1. Income inequality disproportionately affects non-white people. Why do you think that is?

  2. You are confusing income inequality with racism. Of course there is rich schools and poor schools. However there is no policy in place that declares which races attend what school.

    There used to be one- perhaps you are too young to remember… It was called “desegregation busing.” OF course that was back during times of actual desegregation..

    While yes I will agree that poverty in our school systems is an issue- I will disagree that its caused by racism. As there is no policy mandating who goes to what school. A white child in a minority majority school in a poor town will have the same lack of opportunity as a black child in that school.

    that has nothing to do with racism.

    oh- and I am not guilty, grumpy, or offended. I am simply tired of being ranted at by an increasingly racist supremacy group. We have been down that road in the USA already. Vermont doesnt need this nonsense

  3. “how does a group made up of 90% white privileged kids represent Black Americans?”

    When did we start talking about Congress?

  4. We are all right how does a group made up of 90% white privileged kids represent Black Americans? And Ted these kids are not going to an finals they are not even smart enough to think for themselves and just cry and have their parents complain till they get the grade they want. Next time they pull this shit the cops should pull out the water cannons.

  5. It’s data from the government. You are now ignoring the facts that you claim don’t exist. You claim that I’m “feeling” this way, when actually I’m reading data that shows that a third of schools in majority black and hispanic areas don’t offer chemistry courses. That is racism.

    You are responding to “victimhood” with an immense amount of either ignorance or guilt. You can stand up for yourself while still being kind and generous to others, and working to ensure that we as a nation treat all people equally.

    In the meantime, you can remain grumpy and offended while hanging out on the wrong side of history.

  6. Again- no official policy. What you feel or what the brookings institute feels means little. What matters is what is actually reality- and the reality is there is no official policy or law discriminating against minorities in the USA. Not one.

    I have dealt with this nonsense victim hood my whole life. I am not taking it any more. If Vermont wants to become a mini California full of would be outraged people constantly insisting you concede to their lastest list of demands-than keep allowing these groups to persist.

    IF not- then speak up. You have nothing to be ashamed of. We are not racists. We are not a racist state. we have done nothing wrong.

    stand up for yourselves and speak up

  8. the travel ban is focused on dangerous unstable countries- Not any specific race or religion. Nor is it even an official policy- as its currently tied up in courts.

    And again- its YOUR opinion, and YOUR assertion that schools are somehow racist- there is no proof of this. Nor is there any policy in place.

    You AGAIN avoid my answer and instead reply with baseless innuendo.

    IF you want people to listen to you- you are going to have to try and debate with actual facts that you can actually use as examples of what you proclaim is going on. Until you can actually come up with an official policy that is a form of “institutional racism” – then your claims will continue to be false

    Or you can join the crowd shutting down our highways as a response to no one wanting to deal with your hollow claims

  9. And once again, the so-called “travel bans” issued by the President are an example. And once again you argue that somehow the federal government doesn’t count as an institution. And we rinse and repeat.

    Or you argue that various regulations related to drug laws, incarceration, housing, access to education, and others aren’t racist because they don’t come out and say “treat white and black people differently.” But the end result is that people are treated differently in our systems because of the color of their skin.

    And you keep beating the affirmative action drum, which is well and good, but who cares? I’m a straight white guy, excelled in school, have a good job, and still want to fight for justice for people who have less than I have for no fault of their own. If that means I’m passed over for an opportunity once in a while, so be it. I’ll be okay.

  10. “They’re not willing to accept examples of racism from the executive branch”

    I have yet to see any examples of Institutional racism in the United States beyond the only one in existence which I have pointed out- Affirmative action…Which primarily discriminates against white men.

    I will ask again- please cite an official policy of institutional racism in place in the United States. Just one

Comments are closed.