The Vermont State Police arrested 29 people who occupied the House chamber after Gov. Peter Shumlin’s inauguration on Jan. 8.
Protesters chanted, sang and unfurled banners protesting Shumlin’s decision to scrap his single payer health care initiative. Later, a group of them sat on the floor of the House and refused to leave.
The demonstrators demanded that House Speaker Shap Smith promise to hold a public hearing on single payer before Jan. 29. Smith has said hearings will likely be held but not by that date.
The demonstration was organized by the Vermont Workers Center, which has long advocated for single payer, and Rising Tide Vermont, which has largely focused on actions against Vermont Gas.
The two groups occupied the Statehouse with about 250 protesters at about 1 p.m. At the end of the day, the demonstrators staged a sit in the well of the House Chamber. The 29 who were arrested refused to leave the building at 8 p.m. when police tried to close the building for the night.
The Vermont Capitol Police called in additional assistance from Vermont State Police, the Montpelier Police Department, the Washington County Sheriff’s Department and the Security Division of the Department of Buildings and General Services.
The arrestees were issued citations and must appear in Vermont Superior Court, Washington County Criminal Division on Feb. 26, to answer charges of unlawful trespass. Nine out of 29 of those apprehended were also charged with resisting arrest.
Here is a list of the people who were arrested:
Philip Strickland, 26, Brattleboro, unlawful trespass
Kevin SantaMaria, 21, Burlington, unlawful trespass and resisting arrest
Christopher Schroth, 28, Plainfield, unlawful trespass and resisting arrest
Sarah Knutson, 53, Barre, unlawful trespass and resisting arrest
Carter Walker, 25, Royalton, unlawful trespass and resisting arrest
Alicia Maddox, 32, White River Junction, unlawful trespass and resisting arrest
Henry Harris, 36, Peacham, unlawful trespass and resisting arrest
Ellen Schwartz, 66, Brattleboro, unlawful trespass
Marigo Farr, 27, Brooklyn, NY, unlawful trespass
Emma Paradis, 23, Montpelier, unlawful trespass
Skyler Wind, 49, Brattleboro, unlawful trespass
Stauch Blaise, 59, East Randolph, unlawful trespass
Kate Kanelstein, 28, Burlington, unlawful trespass
David Przepioski, 55, Craftsbury, unlawful trespass
Jonathan Leavitt, 35, Burlington, unlawful trespass
Benjamin Cohen, 22, Burlington, unlawful trespass
Ryan MacDonald, 37, East Burke, unlawful trespass
Amanda Sheppard, 32, Bridport, unlawful trespass
Anna Gebhardt, 35, Burlington, unlawful trespass
Sheila Linton, 36, Brattleboro, unlawful trespass and resisting arrest
Mary Gerisch, 64, Bennington, unlawful trespass
Avery Pittman, 35, Burlington, unlawful trespass and resisting arrest
William Bennington, 36, Plainfield, unlawful trespass and resisting arrest
Elizabeth Beatty-Owens, 23, Hardwick, unlawful trespass
Emily Eck, 24, Plainfield, unlawful trespass
Jessica Morrison, 29, Burlington, unlawful trespass
Matthew McGrath, 32, Burlington, unlawful trespass
Avery Book, 32, Burlington, unlawful trespass
Elizabeth Nikazmerad, 29, Burlington, unlawful trespass and resisting arrest
