This is the third in a series of four posts on related subjects. Yes I’m a selectboard member; no I’m not speaking for the board or the town. (As if I could!)

This will be the first time I have publicly discussed this, because I prefer focus not be on myself when hundreds of children and workers in scrubs are found in mass graves on hospital grounds with their hands zip-tied behind their backs. But since it’s been mentioned around town: I was among the 90 arrested at the protest at Dartmouth on May 1. It was a principled stand in the tradition of a dozen mass student-led movements spanning American history, which created changes we all consider good. These changes simply didn’t happen until thousands (or tens of thousands) were arrested at hundreds of protests.

People in power seem to only like protest action that exists politely in the periphery. Perhaps so they can ignore it. If you think protests need to be polite, to be officially permitted—such that they can be ignored—then it’s possible you don’t fully grasp what protest is for.

The arrested Dartmouth protesters, 73 of whom are students and faculty including former Jewish Studies Chair Annelise Orleck, will have our day in court, assisted in defense by the NH ACLU. We will use the court to speak. Again, that’s largely what Hartford residents pay me $100 every two weeks to do: to speak on behalf of what I’m hearing. What I did getting arrested isn’t much, but it added to the numbers, in solidarity. If we all do a little, if we all speak and demand and do a little, maybe things will budge.

Fighting for justice “over there” *IS* fighting for justice here. It sets the standard that no one can be starved or blown to bits in the name of capital, hegemony, or anything else. All have dignity. Including us. Gazans would do the same for us; indeed they literally have. They’ve stood up in protest of all kinds of things: lack of U.S. civil rights, apartheid in South Africa, income inequality when our banners decryed the chokehold of “the 1%.” Crucially, however, we and Gazans stand for one another not out of reciprocity, but because it’s right.

To the idea that I’m an “individual member pushing my agenda,” that’s only true in small part. Sure, I’m acting on what I believe, but this is no different than how other board members act, in that I’m also supporting hundreds of folks in town who happen to share these beliefs. We shouldn’t let anyone silence the beliefs of a group of citizens by trying to ascribe those beliefs to a single representative alone.

I’m also here supporting the hundreds of students and community members who came out to protest May 1, and the hundreds who support sending a message to our national representatives via a ceasefire resolution. One gentleman cited a chapter of Vermont law that outlines the limited powers selectboard members have. That’s why the worth of a resolution—which the state grants us the power to make—is merely in its ability to send a message. We’ll soon decide whether this message is worthwhile.

Judging by how often it comes up, folks seem to want to assume the board neglects “the business of the town.” Especially if it’s made known that in our free time, we think about non-town things. (Or in this case, how non-town things affect our town.) Anyway, below is a response to questions posted here yesterday, sent by the town manager after I passed around an early draft of a response. I’m spreading the response because others may wish for updates on the same subjects.

Fairview Terrace retaining wall: “The Selectboard has heard from design engineers who have opined on project costs and the Selectboard has approved of a plan to propose a $4,100,000.00 bond to the voters in November to support construction to allow the road to be reopened to one-way traffic.”

Former Hartford Diner site: “As Brandon has stated, there is pending litigation. However, I share your concerns over this eyesore and hope to find the best way to clean up the site, without running afoul of the property rights of others. This may require the Town to take title to the parcel, at least long enough to perform the needed cleanup work.”

Status of replacing aging/failing water lines in Wilder: “We have engineers working on design and we expect work to begin this year.”

Accessible doors to the Bugbee Senior Center: “The Town has architects designing needed improvements to the facility, including ADA access.”

The listserv has its limitations, so if you’d like to hear what I have to say without this filter, email hey@brandonsmith.com to be included in future mailings.