Geri Peterson can tell you about the citizen discontent behind Saturday’s “No Kings” rally in Burlington, the largest of several dozen Vermont demonstrations — and 1,800 national events — set to protest the Trump administration.
As a lead organizer, she also knows about the unseen costs.
Peterson has learned the price of a permit to take over Burlington’s Waterfront Park from noon to 4 p.m. is $4,000. Renting a stage is another $4,000. Hiring a standby ambulance service is yet another $4,000. Add private security, traffic patrols, support personnel and portable restrooms and the final tab is expected to total about $20,000.
“It’s an enormous undertaking,” she said.
Peterson arranged a similar “Hands Off!” protest April 5 on the Statehouse lawn in Montpelier. Joining peers at 1,000 sister events nationwide, volunteers at the Vermont capital raised about $6,000 for a local street closure permit and security to handle an expected 6,000 people, only to see the crowd swell to an estimated 10,000.
Peterson hopes Saturday’s rally in Burlington will draw up to 20,000 people for speakers including U.S. Rep. Becca Balint, D-Vt., cartoonist Alison Bechdel and Columbia University protester Mohsen Mahdawi.
“Fingers crossed,” Peterson said of a potential appearance by U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.
The event is one of several dozen around the state and more than 1,800 across the nation set to counter a Washington, D.C., military parade on President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday.
Vermont activists are building off a March 1 protest during Vice President JD Vance’s visit to the Sugarbush resort and several dozen April 5 “Hands Off!” resistance rallies statewide.
Organizers with the national 50501 and Indivisible networks said they hope their “No Kings” efforts will attract a total U.S. crowd larger than the estimated 3 million to 5 million “Hands Off!” participants in April.
Vermont State Police and the Department of Public Safety don’t anticipate the protests will require them to increase their staffing or spending, according to spokesperson Adam Silverman. But Saturday’s demonstrations, set for communities as far north as Barton and as far south as Bennington, could squeeze the finances of at least one town.
Brattleboro organizers are planning for 1,000 people or more to gather on the town common from 3 to 6 p.m. The local government is charging $50 for the park rental and $25 for an event permit, although it won’t bill for police and public safety expenses anticipated to total up to $900 per hour.
“Our policy has been for the town to absorb the costs of these larger rallies,” Town Manager John Potter told the local selectboard at a meeting last week.
But hearing complaints about a 10.8% tax hike in the town budget, Brattleboro officials plan to ask protest organizers to voluntarily pay more until the municipality considers a higher fee structure.
“In recognition of what’s happening in the nation, there will be more events,” selectboard Chair Elizabeth McLoughlin said.
