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An education in activism
FEBRUARY 12 , 2026
WILLISTON’S NEWSPAPER SINCE 1985
WWW.WILLISTONOBSERVER.COM
ICE protesters seek guidance on safe resistance BY JASON STARR Observer staff
Shocked by news out of Minneapolis and wary of what could happen during an immigration enforcement surge in Vermont, a group of local activists last week sought police guidance about how to safely protest and document federal agents. Matt Cohen spent 14 years with the Williston Police Department and is currently the interim chief of Richmond Police. He led a discussion last Thursday — with comfort dog Duke on leash — for an overflow crowd of citizens in the community room at the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library. The event was organized by a newly formed group called Williston for Equity and Democracy. With Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) clashes with protesters turning deadly last month in
Interim Richmond Police Chief Matt Cohen meets with members of Williston for Equity and Democracy last Thursday at the Williston library to explain best practices for safely protesting ICE activities. OBSERVER PHOTO BY JASON STARR
Minnesota, the stakes are high. “I’m giving you an education,” Cohen said. “You will have to make choices based on the information you have at hand. This is not legal advice.” Cohen highlighted a key fact that may not be common knowledge: ICE and Customs and Border Protection agents have enhanced powers within 100 miles of the national border. Most of Vermont is within that zone. The enhanced powers include the ability to search vehicles without probable cause, to establish fixed checkpoints along roads, and to use skin color and language as “reasonable suspicion” to stop, detain and investigate people. “Local law enforcement can’t do that. They can,” Cohen said. Cohen also explained that federal agents are enforcing different laws than local police. And while there can be collaboration, local officers can’t be commandeered by the feds. see ACTIVISM page 3
11 arrested during ICE protest at Williston business park BY AUDITI GUHA VTDigger
A group of adults were arrested Monday during a civil disobedience action in Williston’s White Cap Business Park, which houses a digital surveillance office run by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Eleven of about two dozen protesters were charged with trespassing, and two were issued citations and released after they declined to leave the private property and asked to be taken into custody, according to a State Police press release. “Courage, my friend, you do not walk alone,” the protesters sang as participants were led out by state troopers.
The entire operation was nonviolent. The 11 people arrested were Revell Allen, 75, of Middlebury; Karen Bixler, 83, of Bethel; Lexington Kennedy, 21, of New York; Donald Kollisch, 74, of Hanover; Dorothy Mammen, 70, of Middlebury; Henry Prensky, 79, of Burlington; Timothy Price, 71, of Ripton; Douglas Smith, 85, of Sharon; Roan Wade, 22, of Red Hook, New York; Jennifer Wasiura, 46, of Weybridge; and Sherri Wormser, 57, of Colchester, the release stated. Peter Booth, 57, of Jericho and Laura Simon, 72, of White River Junction, were issued citations on a charge each of criminal trespass and released. They are all scheduled to be arraigned at 8:30 a.m. on March 2 at Vermont Superior Court in Burlington,
according to the release. “This is the way we get our message out,” Simon said minutes after she was read her rights and escorted out of the atrium of the Industrial Avenue building. “Every time people see us doing this, others realize they can also choose to stand up and exercise their rights,” she said. “I think more of this has to happen to create a change in government.” “The Vermont State Police respects the right of people to protest and ensures those rights are protected, while also acknowledging that the owners of private buildings have the right to restrict people from entering and occupying their property,” the release read. “In this case, the property owner has requested that protesters not enter the
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building to ensure users of the facility are able to access their office spaces.” This was the second time a group of adults occupied the atrium at the office park that houses one of two ICE facilities in Williston. In a symbolic stance, the Williston Selectboard passed a resolution opposing ICE last month. Shortly after 1 p.m. on Monday, protestors began occupying the atrium, which has doors leading into the office housing ICE’s National Criminal Analysis and Targeting Center. They sang songs of protest and read names of people killed in ICE custody or by ICE agents. Some carried placards that see PROTEST page 24