Migrant Justice Justicia Migrante

Vermont Governor Phil Scott has signed into law a proposal crafted by Migrant Justice to expand access to higher education for the state’s immigrant community. The new “Education Equity for Immigrant Students” law will ensure that all Vermont residents, regardless of immigration status, have access to in-state tuition rates and need-based financial aid when attending public colleges and universities.

Migrant Justice built a coalition and worked with lawmakers throughout this year’s legislative session to advance this important proposal. The work was led by immigrant students and parents, who met with representatives and senators, built support, and provided testimony on their desire to build a future in Vermont.

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“Education Equity for Immigrant Students” proposal awaits Governor’s signature

Montpelier, VT: Lawmakers and immigrant community members rallied today at the Vermont State House to celebrate the passage of the “Education Equity for Immigrant Students” proposal by the legislature and to call on Governor Scott to sign the bill into law.

Once enacted, the bill will ensure that all Vermont residents, regardless of immigration status, have access to in-state tuition rates and need-based financial aid when attending public colleges and universities in the state. The proposal, originally introduced as H.817, was later combined with another education-related bill (S.191) and passed overwhelmingly by both houses. The bill was transmitted to the Governor on May 24th and awaits his signature.

On May 1st, farmworkers held a hugely successful one-day boycott of the Hannaford in Williston, VT that resulted in a double-digit drop in the store’s sales. Hundreds of customers made a choice to show their solidarity with farmworkers and not cross the picket line. Following this successful action, we reached out to Hannaford to request a meeting to discuss our invitation to join the Milk with Dignity Program.

Last Friday, after Hannaford failed to respond to the invitation, farmworkers decided to bring the message directly to Hannaford President Mike Vail at the company’s headquarters in Scarborough, Maine. With thousands of handwritten postcards from Hannaford customers in hand, a delegation of a dozen Vermont dairy workers and allies traveled to Scarborough and knocked on the company’s front doors.

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In 2017, when Donald Trump took the presidency and made attacks against immigrant communities and “Sanctuary Cities” a cornerstone of his administration, Vermont policy-makers and law enforcement officials buckled under the threats and watered down protections for immigrant rights in the state. After years of pressure from Migrant Justice – and with the threat of another Trump presidency looming – the state has now reversed course and strengthened policy. While the changes still leave out some key protections, they represent a significant victory for immigrant rights in Vermont.

We celebrate this achievement while recognizing that the changes fall short of what immigrant communities need and deserve. Our focus now turns towards implementation, to ensure that law enforcement agencies properly adopt, train to, and hold officers accountable to the updated policy. No actions can undo the harm caused by past collaboration, but the new policy will be a key tool to protect immigrant rights in Vermont in the years to come.

Read more to learn about new protections in Vermont’s Fair and Impartial Policing Policy!

This year’s Mayday action at Hannaford Supermarket was a huge success! From 7am to 11pm, farmworkers and allies picketed, rallied, marched, and chanted, calling on Hannaford customers to refrain from shopping at the store. The response was overwhelming: hundreds of potential customers respected the picket line and turned away, decreasing Hannaford’s sales at its Williston location by double digits.

The action on International Workers’ Day felt like a full-day festival. Throughout the day, farmworkers were joined on the picket line by union members, faith communities, farmers, and students: nuns, high schoolers, and nurses all chanted together, calling for Milk with Dignity. Farmworkers delivered homemade meals of tamales, empanadas, and barbacoa, keeping the ralliers fed. Bread & Puppet brought a massive puppet, and brass bands provided musical accompaniment. Picketers cooled off with Ben & Jerry’s ice cream (from Milk with Dignity farms!), and a cow with a Mayday garland of daffodils made an appearance.

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Migrant Justice is back from The Netherlands, the home base of Hannaford´s parent company Ahold Delhaize. After a packed trip of meetings with Ahold workers, labor unions, civil society organizations, and academics, we are building momemtum in the Milk with Dignity campaign. With newfound support in Europe, we are calling on Hannaford to address human rights violations in its supply chain and join Milk with Dignity.

Next up: May 1st, International Workers Day! This Mayday, for the first time, farmworkers are calling for a one-day boycott to protest the company’s refusal to stop abuses on the farms behind Hannaford-brand milk. 

Workers and allies will hold a full-day picket of the Hannaford Supermarket in Williston, Vermont. Join us!

Read more to get the details!

April 10th was a major day for the Milk with Dignity campaign. Around Vermont, across the country, and in Europe, Migrant Justice and allies took action to stand up for the rights and dignity of dairy workers.

Farmworkers led three surprise actions at Hannaford stores, gathering to speak with managers and educate customers about conditions in the company’s supply chain. Workers handed out informative leaflets and urged store managers to speak with company executives on the need for Milk with Dignity.

Meanwhile, hundreds of customers and allies contacted the office of Hannaford President Mike Vail directly, voicing their support for Milk with Dignity and calling on the company to sit down with farmworkers. Over 400 people called throughout the day!

And finally, a Migrant Justice delegation arrived in The Netherlands, the home of Hannaford parent company Ahold Delhaize!

Read more to see a full photo-report from the day of action.

A Migrant Justice delegation has arrived in Amsterdam and is now entering the shareholder meeting of Ahold Delhaize to call for Milk with Dignity. Simultaneously, farmworkers are leading surprise actions at Hannaford stores around the region, educating consumers about the abuses in Hannaford´s supply chain and demanding a worker-led solution.

Add your voice! Join with thousands of allies who have called Hannaford's headquarters to show their support for Milk with Dignity. Make your call today!

End of day update: Over 400 calls to Hannaford Supermarkets!

This week, Migrant Justice will travel to The Netherlands to join a meeting of Ahold Delhaize – the multinational corporation that owns Hannaford Supermarkets – and call for Milk with Dignity. While corporate executives and company shareholders meet to celebrate $100 billion in annual sales, we will urge them to invest in a worker-led solution to human rights abuses in their supply chain.

On Wednesday, Migrant Justice representatives will challenge Ahold Delhaize on Hannaford’s ongoing refusal to address human rights violations in its dairy supply chain. As Ahold seeks to tout its human rights commitments – including the implementation of new “Standards of Engagement” setting expectations for its suppliers – Migrant Justice will share the reality of workers’ experiences on farms producing Hannaford-brand milk.

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