Treasurer Pieciak Calls on Attorney General to Dismiss Charges Against ICE Protesters

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A factual summary is pending editorial review. The complete official release is reproduced below with issuer attribution and a direct link to the original publication.

Official release

Source material from Vermont Office of the State Treasurer. The wording below is the issuer’s statement.

Montpelier, VT - This morning, thirteen protesters were arraigned on misdemeanor unlawful trespass charges following their arrest during a July demonstration at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) National Criminal Analysis and Targeting Center in Williston. This event marks the first criminal prosecutions arising from the ongoing demonstrations at the facility. The cases are being prosecuted by the Vermont Attorney General's Office.

Treasurer Pieciak issued the following statement:

“I was surprised to learn the Attorney General decided to prosecute the 13 peaceful protestors arrested at the ICE facility in Williston.

“I disagree with this decision to prosecute Vermonters for peacefully exercising their first amendment rights in the face of serious injustices against our immigrant neighbors.

“Prosecutors have discretion over which cases to charge. They regularly choose not to charge cases in the interests of justice or to preserve scarce government resources. It is clear to me that pursuing this case will not bring justice to our communities and is a waste of taxpayer dollars.

“These protestors were doing what their political leaders have repeatedly called for at this moment: speak up and take peaceful action against the unconstitutional and un-American actions of ICE and the Trump Administration.

“I call on the Attorney General to reconsider and dismiss these charges.”

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Release text attributed to Vermont Office of the State Treasurer. Consult the official publication for any subsequent corrections or updates.