A message from VBSR Executive Director, Chelsea Bardot Lewis:

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My mom comes from a large Minnesotan family, as I follow the news coverage, I know that my cousins are specks in the sea of people on the front lines of our nation’s fight for democracy. I was particularly moved when I read that hundreds of Twin Cities businesses shut their doors to protest ICE. These (mostly small) business leaders gave up a day of revenue to align their companies with their values.

As the Executive Director of VBSR, I spend my time with brave business leaders here in Vermont and see the many ways that they are stepping up. The business community has experienced a year of chaos, and their margins have been decimated by tariffs, declining tourism, and rising healthcare costs. And still, they are spending their time, money and social capital to protect our democracy.

The urgency to act is no longer theoretical or distant. Just across our border, Maine is now experiencing a significant increase in federal immigration enforcement activity. In the past week alone, federal officials confirmed a statewide operation, “Catch of the Day,” with a heightened presence of agents in Portland and Lewiston and dozens of arrests already reported. It is time for each of us to step up.

Here are three actions that I see VBSR members taking right now:

1.

Publicly voice support for democracy and the rule of law.

As leaders of people, we often compartmentalize our political beliefs from our businesses, as not to alienate employees or customers who feel differently from us. However, the business voice is too powerful to be silent. We must be clear that democracy is not a partisan issue. More leaders and brands are using their platform to message clearly: democracy and the rule of law are necessary for our economy and our communities to thrive.

2.

Support employee civic engagement.

VBSR members of all scales are giving employees time off for voting. Sometimes this extends into time off for other civic engagement actions like attending a rally or testifying at the Statehouse. Businesses can also educate their employees on how to become a poll worker or election observer. 

3.

Build skills and stand in solidarity with individuals and organizations most impacted by authoritarian threats.

We saw businesses step up to support food security during the cruel cuts to food assistance programs last year. They have elevated the work of the Vermont Asylum Assistance Project and other organizations supporting communities targeted by ICE here in Vermont. Now it is time to build the skills to protect our neighbors from increasing militarization in our communities. Consider offering a constitutional observer or solidarity training in your workplace to build skills for nonviolent protection of our communities.

This is a moment when many of us are afraid, exhausted, and unsure of what to do. Let’s not let overwhelm lead us to paralysis. The first step is to acknowledge that things are not okay, and commit to doing something about it. If we each take a small action, whether it be speaking out, giving an employee time to participate in civic action, or building skills to protect and support our neighbors, we build collective power.

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