On March 1st, over a thousand Vermonters showed up to protest J.D. Vance’s presence in the Mad River Valley, where he and his family had planned a weekend ski getaway at Sugarbush Resort. “We are gathering to show our outrage at what is happening in D.C.,”  wrote Indivisible Mad River Valley, the grassroots group that organized the protest, in a February 28 newsletter. The group encourage a large turnout, writing, “We hope to attract media attention.” Their hope was met and exceeded. The protest went viral on social media, and reporters from the Boston Globe, the BBC, and the New York Times reached out to cover the story. Now, Indivisible hopes that their actions will inspire other progressive resistance groups around the world.

For such a rural community, the protest’s turnout was remarkable. Judi Daly, who is part of Indivisible Mad River Valley’s leadership team, said organizers were “astounded” by just how massive the demonstration became. “It’s thrust us into this role of having to talk to the media,” she said, something they’d previously had little experience with. Indivisible’s leadership team spent the week following the protest responding to a deluge of media requests. 

Favorable weather and outrage over Trump and Vance’s stance on the war in Ukraine both influenced the large turnout. After Trump and Vance’s verbal assault against Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Vermonters were energized, angry, and eager to show up. Though the protest was not specifically about Ukraine, many protesters brought Ukrainian flags, as well as signs condemning Vance’s ties to Russia. 

Lucy Welch, a snow reporter at Sugarbush, used her platform to publish a piece condemning the administration’s attacks on land and human rights. “Our community is rich with folks of all different orientations, ethnicities, and walks of life, who all contribute to make this place what it is,” Welch wrote. “All of these groups are being targeted, undervalued, and disrespected by the current administration.” She highlighted the fact that Sugarbush relies on the National Forest, which is currently under threat. Despite expecting to be fired, the New York Times recently reported that Welch has kept her job.

The day before Vance’s arrival, Vermont Governor Phil Scott released a statement wishing Vance and his family an enjoyable stay. “I hope Vermonters remember the Vice President is here on a family trip with his young children and, while we may not always agree, we should be respectful. Please join me in welcoming them to Vermont.” Scott, who was first elected in 2017, has sustained high approval ratings throughout his time in office, despite being a Republican governor in a blue state. Daly and other Indivisible members were not satisfied by Scott’s approach to the new administration, which Daly described as “very quiet” and “very cautious.” Scott has maintained his popularity through moderate policies, but has been criticized by progressives as being too noncommittal. 

Vermont has a history of fighting for democratic liberties. In 2022, Vermont enshrined reproductive freedom in its constitution, as is highlighted on the Center for Reproductive Freedom’s website, and Vermont was also the first state to recognize civil unions. Vermont’s small size can make organizing difficult; Vermont groups don’t always have the infrastructure available in bigger cities. Yet, there is also power in Vermont’s small size. “We know our legislators, we can contact them, we see them in the grocery store,” said Daly. “In these small communities of Vermont, people tend to care about what happens to their neighbors.”

Indivisible Mad River Valley is part of a larger national network of Indivisible organizations. Currently, Indivisible Mad River Valley is working to build its connections with other Vermont Indivisible groups, many of which have reformed in response to the new administration. In the face of cuts to the National Park Service, Indivisible has urged Vermont’s ski areas and businesses to do what they can to protect Vermont’s land.

Daly hopes that communities around the world will be inspired by Vermont’s resistance. Already, Daly says Indivisible has received an outpouring of support and appreciation from other grassroots groups. “Our little protest seems to have sparked something across the world.”