Some Vermonters worried about radicalization of local left-wing groups

Several Vermont candidates and voters are expressing concerns about the influence socialist and fascist-like groups may be having on the state’s Democratic Party.

As seen on the web and social media, radical groups such as the Democratic Socialists of America and Antifa have active chapters in Vermont and are working to become part of the the body politic. Unlike mainstream political groups, these groups have shown a willingness to embrace aggressive protest tactics.

In Vermont over the past two years, some acts of political aggression have included a death threat sent to Republican House candidate Deserae Morin, the 2017 student protest against “Bell Curve” author Charles Murray at Middlebury College, and the sabotage of the Judge Brett Cavanaugh Supreme Court hearings by protesters from Vermont.

Such developments are troubling to Jack Williams, one of three Windsor County Republicans who will be on the ballot for state Senate in November.

Jack Williams

Senate candidate Jack Williams: “Many of us grew up in a time when stuff like this just didn’t happen in America; it took place in other countries.”

“Many of us grew up in a time when stuff like this just didn’t happen in America, it took place in other countries,” Williams told True North. “I know many naïve people have trouble accepting the reality of socialism in America today. We’re a good people, overall, in this country”

A Vietnam veteran and former U.S. Army Special Forces officer with past experience in the study of international leftist political groups, Williams is concerned about strident groups that go beyond civil protest to influence political outcomes.

Williams points to Antifa’s black costumes and face masks, which he said are designed to intimidate and foster fear in the general public just as the violent paramilitary SA Brownshirts did in the streets of 1930s Germany.

He also sees radicalism in mainstream groups that traditionally have been nonviolent but may now be embracing more aggressive tactics.

Antifa protesters wear black costumes and face masks designed to intimidate and foster fear.

“Take Vermont as an example: We’re starting to see groups like the NAACP coming into Vermont in places like Rutland. Back in the 1960s it was a very good organization, but over time it has been co-opted by really radical people. … These and other organizations bear watching.”

H. Brooke Paige, a Republican candidate for secretary of state, was upset by the violent threat against Morin, of Colchester, who received a letter from someone claiming to be from the socialist political camp.

“The liberal left seems to be losing its grip on civility,” Paige said. “Deserae Morin is an outspoken advocate for conservatism including support for gun owners’ rights — this by no means should make her the target for classic terrorist threats in the form of notes composed using cut-up snippets from magazines and newspapers looking like 1960s ransom demands.

“The liberal left appear to have revealed themselves as the cowardly communists they actually are.”

Republicans like Williams and Paige aren’t the only ones worried about radicalism creeping into Vermont’s left-wing politics. Independent-minded voters, such as David LaPlante of Springfield, also are alarmed over what they see.

“The Democrat Party has been taken over by the Nasty Party,” LaPlante said. “All you have to do is listen to them for a couple of minutes. They have nothing good to say —  just nasty things about everybody who doesn’t see things their way.”

Ron Saunders, an independent voter from Windsor County, is concerned that young Vermonters are embracing socialism without any understanding of its connection to totalitarian regimes during the post-World War I era.

“A democratic socialist literally is what the Nazi Party was,” he said. “This is what happens when history isn’t taught in school.”

Another leftist group, called Rights & Democracy Vermont, has endorsed several Democratic candidates in Vermont.

“We will be canvassing neighborhoods, knocking on doors, talking to voters, and handing out flyers as we work to elect Christine Hallquist as governor and re-elect Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman and Treasurer Beth Pearce,” Elise Greaves, Vermont RAD’s political engagement coordinator wrote in an Oct. 17 email letter to RAD members.

The group’s preferred candidates are those who campaign on universal health care, paid family leave, a $15 minimum wage, prekindergarten education and green energy, among other far left issues.

According to Greaves’ recent letter to activist RAD members, the group will be canvassing for the upcoming election in Addison, Chittenden, Franklin, and Rutland counties on Oct. 27.

While Williams suspects that out-of-state money is behind many radical groups in Vermont, local support is the key ingredient to help deliver the socialist agenda. Supporters of Rights & Democracy include everyone from Our Revolution to Montpelier’s Three Penny Taproom, according to this listing:

Our Revolution, Center for Popular Democracy, the Works Café, People’s Action, Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, Chelsea Green Publishing, Vermont Coalition for Disability Rights, Everyone’s Books, Three Penny Taproom, National Economic and Social Rights Initiative, First Step Print Shop, Rutland Area Branch of the NAACP, Green Energy Options, the Sustainability Project, Brewbaker’s Café, the Center for Media and Democracy/Channel 17,Orchard Hill Breadworks, Backporch Publishing, the Common Man, Majestic Car Rental, ACT for Social Justice, the Monadnock Food Coop, and the Elm City Compost Initiative.

While Rights & Democracy has been transparent about its support of Vermont Democratic candidates this election cycle, the Democratic Socialists of America chapter in Burlington did not respond to TNR’s inquiry about its candidate endorsements.

However, in response to a question on the DSA national website asking if Democratic Socialists of America competes against the Democratic Party, the group offers the following response: “No, we are not a separate party. Like our friends and allies in the feminist, labor, civil rights, religious, and community organizing movements, many of us have been active in the Democratic Party. We work with those movements to strengthen the party’s left wing, represented by the Congressional Progressive Caucus.”

It adds: “We hope that at some point in the future, in coalition with our allies, an alternative national party will be viable. For now, we will continue to support progressives who have a real chance at winning elections, which usually means left-wing Democrats.”

An official at the DSA headquarters in New York City said the national headquarters is not active in the Green Mountain State at the present time.

“We have no endorsements in Vermont in this election cycle,” DSA’s Lawrence Dreyfuss told TNR.

Lou Varricchio is a freelance reporter for True North Reports. Send him news tips at lvinvt@gmx.com.

Images courtesy of Wikimedia Commons user: The All-Nite Images and Jack Williams

20 thoughts on “Some Vermonters worried about radicalization of local left-wing groups

  1. Being that we are the party who believes in the second ammendment- what are you afraid of exactly?
    I believe this article was a one last attempt to revive the PR stunt that Deserae Morin may or may not have done to herself.

  2. When everything is about race we stand divided against ourselves instead of being united, there was a reason our pledge of allegiance was removed from the class room! Our enemies are working hard to tear down our way of life from within, now our young are taught to oppose racism by making everything about race, with little more than an accusation.

    The enemy is here among us, denying our youth the point of reference they need by removing a pledge that illustrates the difference between respect and accusation.

  3. Oh yes,

    The DEM/PROGS want to bring in more Muslims ( including to Vermont) to help them with their leftist DEEP STATE shenanigans.

    The caravan is financed by LEFTIST DEEPSTATE DEMOCRAT activist groups hoping to get a boost in the November elections

    Exactly the opposite will happen.

    Just as that DEEP STATE lost by having Kavanaugh confirmed, so will they lose in November by overplaying the immigrant/gender/race issues.

  4. With the likes of Maxine Waters urging the folks to get in the faces of all Republicans, is anyone sutprised the the left nut fruit cakes take her seriously and revolt????

  5. The hatred and indoctrination starts at a very young age. The big public education monopoly teaches the kids which way to vote (democrat) and the democrats make regulations and policy that favor the big public education monopoly. No room in the classroom for any other way of thinking. The CNN sheep are full of hate and self righteousness.

    • Speaking of the NAACP, Guy, for an eye opener read Burgess Owens’ well researched book “Liberalism or how to turn good men into whiners, wheenies and whimps.” You will be surprised to learn that the NAACP was started by white atheist socialists/Marxists, as was Planned Parenthood.
      Today the NAACP, BET (Black Entertainment Television) and Planned Parenthood are still under the control of white leftists.

      Owens shoots down the $15/hour minimum wage and explains why it’s harmful to the poor, especially poor blacks. His explanation of the Democratic party’s destructive urban plantation is also worth the read.
      A descendant of slaves who rose to fame as an NFL SuperBowl champ, he’s man of G-D, fierce proponent for education and effective teacher, and a true gentleman. Burgess Owens is a role model for America!!

  6. That horse left the barn a long time ago. Why haven’t conservatives been countering the perceptions of the Sanders and Leahys types right along? Why have you allowed their program to go unchecked?? You always wait to the last minute, when everyone can see the fire, to start whining we have to do something! Its the job of the conservative leadership to provide Vermonters with talking points that clearly contrast governing with conservative principles vs governing by central planning. The former relies on free markets, minimal regulation, personal accountability, etc. The latter relies on generally sucking the life blood out of taxpayers for the social program du jour. If you actually develop a communications strategy now, maybe we’ll see a difference in attitudes in 10-15 years

  7. “Center for Popular Democracy”

    Evidently a group for unfortunate uneducated people as the U S is a Constitutional Republic,Not Democracy.

    If it were a Democracy perhaps the pledge would read.

    “I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Democracy for which it stands,”

    However it reads.

    “I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands,”

    Or The Battle Hymn of the Democracy rather than “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” .

    I constantly hear from both sides “Our Democracy”,
    unless something has changed and I missed the boat the U S is not a Democracy rather A Republic.

  8. Sounds like a bunch of butthurt old white guys bitter about the changing world are looking for an easy scapegoat. “Leftists” and “Democrats” are the witches of the day… burn them!!!

    • Mr Davis, how can you tell the color of someone’s skin by an online contribution?
      I understand you like to line your pockets from the wacko socialists democrat policies but this America and many of us enjoy being free. I guess the libs only believe in tolerance if you rubber stamp their looney ideas.

  9. Progressivism is a Utopian religion. To counter their doctrine at any point, although it is often radically inconsistent (politically motivated belief or contravention of the accuser) is to be demonized and attacked. The Berserk Left has gained political control of the Democrat party. They have gone full Fascist; the totalitarian centralization of a command and control economy (like Venezuela) is the goal they intend to achieve at whatever cost necessary by whatever means necessary. Ming the Merciless had nothing on them.

  10. Yeah, these liberal “snowflakes ” think if they intimidate there opponent they will stay home,
    I guess these fools really haven’t run into to the right person yet, it’s something they’re not
    going to enjoy and it will happen !!

    They must think dressing in their ” black garb ” and covered faces is scary…….Boo Hoo !!
    it just shows they are cowards.

    Karma will get you ………………………..

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