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Burlington council unanimously adopts free-speech resolution amid public outcry over student arrests
Summary
Burlington City Council unanimously adopted a resolution on April 28 affirming First Amendment protections and urging colleges and universities not to cooperate with federal immigration and enforcement actions against students and others detained for political speech.
BURLINGTON — The Burlington City Council unanimously adopted a resolution on April 28 affirming the city’s support for First Amendment rights and condemning the use of federal immigration and law-enforcement authority to detain students and community members for political speech. The resolution specifically names three students — Mohsen Madawi, Ramesa Ozturk and Mahmoud Khalil — and calls on colleges and universities to refuse cooperation with federal immigration and law-enforcement authorities when asked to persecute students for protected speech.
Why it matters: Dozens of residents filled public forum to press the council to act after a series of arrests and detentions across the country and locally that speakers said targeted Palestine solidarity activists and student dissenters. Supporters of the resolution said local governments and institutions must reaffirm…
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