The Moretown Select Board declined to include a proposed “apartheid-free community” resolution on the Town Meeting ballot next month, a petition signed by 81 registered voters. The non-binding resolution singles out the state of Israel for its treatment of Gazans and Palestinians. The board rejected the petition at its January 20 meeting.
The nonbinding resolution, submitted by resident Andrew Pappone, asked voters whether the town should adopt a pledge opposing “all forms of racism, bigotry, discrimination, and oppression” and declaring itself an “apartheid-free community,” including a commitment to work to end support for what the petition describes as Israel’s “apartheid regime, settler colonialism and military occupation.”
Select board members said the proposal fell outside the scope of municipal governance, risked deepening divisions among neighbors and focused narrowly on international politics rather than local issues.
Pappone said the board’s decision represented a rejection of community discussion on moral values and human rights.
“I have lived and worked in Palestine and feel very strongly about what is going on there, especially as an American Jew,” Pappone said. He said the campaign began before October 2023 but intensified following Israel’s military response in Gaza, which he described as “the most televised and covered genocide we have ever witnessed in modern times.”
Pappone argued that U.S. tax dollars and government policy connect local residents to the conflict and make it appropriate for towns to speak out symbolically. He also linked the resolution to concerns about free speech in the United States, citing recent arrests and potential deportations of Palestinian activists.
Under Vermont law, towns must place binding articles on the ballot when petitions related to municipal matters are signed by at least 5% of registered voters. Advisory articles not directly related to town business, however, are left to the discretion of select boards.
Pappone acknowledged that the board had legal authority to deny the petition but said the spirit of the statute encourages inclusion when a significant number of residents sign on.
“That’s why this seems like a really overbearing move by the select board that stifles rather than stimulates discussion around our values as a town,” he said.
He added that while he respects the work of the select board, that respect does not preclude criticism. “I do not think that absolves them from being called out when they make mistakes,” Pappone said. “And I think this was a major mistake.”
During public comment, resident Deborah Feldman urged the board to keep the resolution off the ballot, citing a Vermont Supreme Court decision that allows boards to exclude articles deemed divisive. Feldman said bringing the issue to Town Meeting would fracture relationships among neighbors.
“This will not bring our community together,” she said. “It will open up cracks – divisiveness among neighbors – where previously that’s been able to be put aside.”
Feldman said the resolution unfairly targeted a specific population and that Town Meeting should focus on matters that unite residents rather than global conflicts. “Town meeting is for towns,” she said.
When the board formally discussed the petition later in the meeting, board chair Tom Martin read the full text aloud and confirmed it had been signed by 81 registered voters, or about 1% of the town’s electorate.
Board member Robin Campbell said the number of signatures was significant but did not outweigh his concerns. “The town is not a place for national politics,” Campbell said, describing the resolution as largely symbolic and “very inflammatory.”
Callie Streeter, another board member, echoed that view, saying international politics were not an effective use of Town Meeting time. She noted that the town had previously adopted a Declaration of Inclusion and questioned whether boards across the state had followed through on similar commitments.
“This is focusing on one,” Streeter said, referring to Israel, adding that singling out a single country was “very uninclusive.”
Don Wexler said that if Town Meeting were to address international human rights, it would need to address abuses worldwide. “We could single out countries all over the world,” he said. “We’ve got lots of other stuff to do for our little community.”
Board member Mike Brown said he was conflicted, noting his personal conversations with Pappone and acknowledging the sincerity of his motivations.
“This isn’t coming from a place of him trying to wind people up,” Brown said. “He’s lived there. He feels very strongly about it. He’s Jewish.”
Still, Brown said Town Meeting was not the appropriate forum. “We can’t do anything about it,” he said, adding that differing views among neighbors could strain community relationships.
After discussion, Campbell moved to deny placing the article on the ballot. The board approved the motion 5–0.
The decision means the resolution will not appear before voters at the March Town Meeting, though Pappone said he plans to continue organizing and speaking out.
“I think it’s important for communities to come together, stand up, and speak out against these atrocities,” he said.
You might also like
